THE  LIBRARY 

OF 

THE  UNIVERSITY 
OF  CALIFORNIA 


PRESENTED  BY 

PROF.  CHARLES  A.  KOFOID  AND 
MRS.  PRUDENCE  W.  KOFOID 


Putnam's  Household  Handbook 

Putnam's  Vegetable  Book 

Putnam's  Handbook  for  Mothers 

Putnam's  Garden  Handbook 

By  Mae  Savell  Croy 


Putnam's  Garden 
Handbook 


By 

•v 

Mae  Savell  Croy 

Author  of 

Putnam's     Household    Handbook,"     "Putnam's    Vegetable 
Book,"     "Putnam's  Handbook  for  Mothers" 


G.  P.  Putnam's  Sons 

New   York   and   London 

Cbe     fmfcfcetbocfcer     press 

1917 


COPYRIGHT,  1917 

B7 
MAE  SAVELL  CROY 

(Under  the  title  tooo  Hints  on  Flowers  and  Birds) 


•Cbe  fmfckerbocfcer  |>res0,  mew  l&or* 


SB405 
G7 


CONTENTS 

PAGE 

THE  ART  OF  GROWING  FLOWERS  i 

ESSENTIALS  IN  GARDENING     ....        8 

SPECIAL  FEATURES  OF  THE  GARDEN         .         .       16 
Hints  on  Growing  Flowers,  Alphabetically 

Arranged 25 

Suggestions  for  Vines  .         .         .143 

General  Plan  of  the  Garden      .         .         .150 

Soil 156 

Fertilization   .         ,  ,       .         .         .         .157 

Seed 172 

Transplanting  and  Thinning     .         .         .180 
Cultivation     .         .         .         .         .         .187 

Weeds    .......     190 

Watering 193 

Cut  Flowers 195 

Water  Plants 197 

The  Rock  Garden 198 

House  Plants           .         .         .         .         .199 
The  Hotbed 207 

THE  LAWN    .......     213 

The  Care  of  the  Lawn      .         .         .         .219 

Grasses  ......     222 

SHRUBBERY  AND  TREES          ....  224 

Shrubbery       ......  231 

Trees 241 

iii 

548774 


Contents 

PAGE 

INSECTS  AND  SPRAYS 251 

Hints  on  Insects 253 

Sprays    which     Every     Gardener     should 
Know  how  to  Make      .         .          .          .269 

THE  COLOR  SCHEME      .         .         .         .         .273 

MISCELLANEOUS  ODD  HINTS  ABOUT  GARDEN- 
ING              279 

A  LIST  OF  THE  COMMON  AND  BOTANICAL  NAMES 

OF  THE  FLOWERS  MENTIONED  HEREIN           .  293 

A  LIST  OF  FLOWERS  ARRANGED  ACCORDING  TO 

THE  BLOSSOMING  PERIOD     ....  297 

PLANTS  SUITABLE  FOR  WINTER  POTTING  .         .  299 

A  LIST  OF  PERENNIALS  ARRANGED  ACCORD- 
ING TO  COLORS 300 

A   LIST  OF   ANNUALS   ARRANGED   ACCORDING 

TO  COLORS 302 

FLOWERS  FOR  CUTTING 304 

FLOWERS  REQUIRING  LITTLE  SUNLIGHT    .         .  305 

FLOWERS  THAT  THRIVE  IN  DAMP  PLACES           .  306 

FLOWERS  FOR  THE  ROCK  GARDEN    .         .         .  306 

VEGETATION  GROWN  FOR  FOLIAGE  .         .        v  306 

FLOWERS  FOR  THE  OLD-FASHIONED  GARDEN      .  306 

A  LIST  OF  EVERGREEN  SHRUBS  AND  TREES       .  307 


Contents  v 

PAGE 

A  PLEA  FOR  THE  BIRDS 308 

Bird  Houses    .         .         .          .         .          .314 

Food  and  Water      .          .         .          .          .318 

Bits  of  Information  .         .         .          .327 

INDEX          .......     339 

BLANK  PAGES  FOR  PERSONAL  NOTES 


Putnam's 
Garden  Handbook 


THE  ART  OF  GROWING  FLOWERS 

No  country  in  the  world  is  quite  so  well  adapted 
to  the  culture  of  flowers  as  America.  Even  in 
the  crowded  city,  flowers  are  possible.  The 
conditions  of  growing  them  are  more  trying  but 
still  they  can  be  grown,  and  in  the  city  the  efforts 
required  to  produce  them  will  receive  far  more 
appreciation  than  in  the  country  or  suburbs. 
Then  why  should  not  Americans  have  gardening 
for  their  art?  We  have  unlimited  space;  we  have 
a  wonderful  variety  of  climatic  and  soil  condi- 
tions, suitable  for  a  wide  variety  of  flowers,  and 
somewhere  in  this  country  flowers  of  every  known 
species  can  be  grown. 

Every  flower  is  worthy  of  cultivation.  Few 
flowers  there  are  which  will  not  give  marvelous 
results  if  carefully  tended,  and  some  of  the  com- 


2  The  Art  of  Growing  Flowers 

monest  weeds  under  careful  cultivation  will 
produce  glorious  garden  plants.  Indeed  some  of 
the  rare  plants  of  one  section  of  the  country  are 
weeds  in  another  section  and  the  great  majority 
of  our  flowers  were  once  grown  wild. 

A  great  many  who  might  readily  grow  flowers 
with  great  success  hesitate  to  attempt  their 
cultivation  because  of  limited  space,  such  as  the 
tiny  city  back  yard,  or  because  of  what  they 
consider  unfavorable  climatic  conditions  resulting 
in  a  short  season.  The  first-mentioned  obstacle 
should  be  no  obstacle.  A  small  space  well  kept 
is  far  preferable  to  a  large  plot  which  cannot  have 
the  desired  attention  given  it,  and  though  city 
back  yards  often  get  little  sunlight  there  are  a 
number  of  plants  that  thrive  best  in  shady  or 
partially  shady  places.  A  list  of  some  of  these 
flowers  will  be  found  elsewhere  in  this  book  by 
referring  to  the  index.  Where  there  is  no  yard 
at  all,  as  for  instance,  in  the  city  apartment, 
window  boxes  are  possible,  and  even  if  the  windows 
are  on  the  north  side  of  the  house,  flowers  which 
require  little  sunlight  will  flourish.  The  lily  of 
the  valley,  for  one,  has  no  superior  in  fragrance  or 
appearance,  and  it  grows  and  multiplies  rapidly  in 
a  shady,  damp  location,  and  is  just  as  suitable  for 
a  window  box  as  for  an  outdoor  garden.  Then 


The  Art  of  Growing  Flowers  3 

there  are  house  plants  galore  for  the  winter  months 
when  window  boxes  as  well  as  outdoor  gardens 
must  be  abandoned.  One  little  plant  will  lend  an 
air  of  cheerfulness  to  a  room,  even  if  it  be  not  a 
flowering  variety,  and  anyone  can  have  some  sort 
of  house  plant.  A  list  of  plants  suitable  for  potting 
can  be  found  by  referring  to  the  index. 

In  the  city  apartment,  there  arises  the  problem 
of  obtaining  earth  but  a  bag  of  heavy  cotton, 
or  thick  paper,  and  a  suitcase,  on  a  day  when 
one  wants  to  take  a  journey  into  the  woods,  will 
solve  this  problem,  and  soil  taken  from  a  spot 
where  vegetation  is  more  or  less  rank  can  be 
depended  upon  to  be  fertile.  Then  there  are 
fertilizers  to  be  purchased  in  commercial  form,  and 
a  very  small  package  of  fertilizer  will  go  a  long 
way  with  a  few  house  plants.  Whatever  ob- 
stacles there  may  be,  flower-growth  is  possible  in 
every  home  if  one  will  but  take  the  pains — it 
cannot  be  called  trouble — to  have  them. 

Where  there  is  more  than  one  member  of  the 
family  able  to  spend  a  little  time  on  gardening, 
competition  should  be  encouraged,  for  then  the 
flowers  will  be  sure  to  receive  attention  and  there 
will  be  an  added  zest  in  watching  them  grow. 
Children  should  be  trained  to  a  love  of  flowers 
and  to  a  study  of  the  habits  of  plant  life.  It  is 


4  The  Art  of  Growing  Flowers 

a  wonderfully  broadening  subject  and  one  which 
never  fails  to  give  pleasure,  and  the  results  forever 
justify  the  labor  expended. 

The  cost  of  flowers  is  small,  very  small,  in 
comparison  to  the  study  of  any  other  art.  A 
package  of  seed  which  will  produce  a  hundred  or 
more  plants  can  be  purchased  for  ten  cents  and 
most  packages  give  directions  for  planting.  Small 
plants  of  three  or  four  inches  in  height  also  are 
very  inexpensive,  though  the  pleasure  is  greater 
to  watch  the  plants  develop  from  seedlings.  Then 
there  is  the  pleasure  to  be  derived  from  developing 
wild  flowers  which  can  be  had  in  the  woods  for 
the  gathering.  Wild  flowers  of  pretty  foliage 
carefully  nurtured  will  grow  and  often  produce 
wonderful  results. 

Bulbs  are  immensely  satisfactory  when  house- 
blooming  plants  are  desired.  They  require  little 
attention  and  can  be  forced  for  blooming  at  any 
period.  Directions  for  forcing  can  be  found  on 
another  page  by  referring  to  "bulbs"  in  the  index. 

Four  features  of  the  garden  claim  close  atten- 
tion, and  these  are  the  lawn,  the  walks,  the  beds, 
and  the  borders.  The  first  two  are  discussed 
elsewhere  in  this  volume,  while  the  last  two  may 
be  treated  as  one.  One  wide  bed  will  give  a  far 
prettier  effect  than  three  or  four  narrow  ones  and 


The  Art  of  Growing  Flowers  5 

the  plants  will  have  a  better  chance  for  develop- 
ment ;  and  a  few  large  beds  with  clumps  of  flowers 
planted  seemingly  at  random  will  be  far  less 
formal  than  set  beds  and  borders  apparently 
designed  with  a  view  to  putting  into  the  garden 
all  that  could  be  crowded  in.  Straight  lines  in  a 
small  garden  are  preferable  but  on  a  large  plot, 
curves  and  angles  may  be  indulged  in,  though 
elaborate,  fancy  shapes  are  never  to  be  desired. 
It  is  the  plants  which  should  be  displayed,  not  the 
beds.  The  more  natural  the  appearance  of  the 
garden  the  more  beautiful  it  will  be.  Anything 
suggestive  of  artificiality  will  detract  from  the 
picture  at  a  glance. 

The  contour  of  the  garden,  as  well  as  the  pro- 
portions of  the  lot,  must  be  studied  before  the 
planting  is  begun.  A  straight  narrow  lot  cannot 
be  treated  in  the  same  manner  as  the  lot  irregular 
in  shape.  The  irregular  lot  already  is  informal. 
If  possible,  dispense  with  a  fence  around  the 
garden.  In  localities  where  animals  are  allowed 
to  run  at  large  this  will  not  be  possible,  but  even 
then  it  may  have  flowers  and  shrubbery  planted 
near  to  break  the  lines,  and  vines  may  be  trained 
to  grow  on  it.  Both  perennials  and  annuals 
should  be  included  in  the  list  of  flowers,  perennials 
in  order  that  new  growth  will  not  have  to  be 


6  The  Art  of  Growing  Flowers 

depended  upon  absolutely  each  season,~and  annuals 
to  furnish  fresh,  new  plant  life  and  a  larger  variety 
of  flowers.  An  evergreen  or  two  should  not  be 
omitted,  otherwise  the  fence  will  appear  cold  and 
bleak  in  the  winter.  Vines  furnish  the  easiest  and 
most  graceful  manner  of  hiding  an  unattractive 
object,  and  vine  cultivation  is  not  tedious.  Many 
vines  are  self-perpetuating  and  most  of  them 
abound  in  foliage  rather  than  in  flowers,  thus 
making  very  attractive  screens.  And  so  a  fence 
which  must  be  hidden,  can  be,  or  at  least  it  may 
be  covered,  in  such  way  that  it  will  not  be  con- 
spicuous. 

The  assortment  of  flowers  is  deserving  of  the 
utmost  care  in  choosing.  Any  flower  is  better 
than  none,  but  there  is  such  a  wide  variety  from 
which  to  choose  that  the  individual  taste  can 
always  be  suited.  Plants  should  be  chosen 
always  with  the  idea  of  getting  the  most  benefit 
from  each  one.  The  tender,  delicate  plants,  like 
tender,  delicate  children,  require  constant  atten- 
tion, and  there  are  many  hardy  varieties  for  the 
gardener  who  cannot  give  a  great  many  hours 
weekly  to  the  pleasant  task  of  gardening.  For 
amateur  gardeners  the  more  hardy  plants  should 
always  be  selected.  Delicate  plants  may  prove 
discouraging  and  the  garden  may  be  given  up, 


The  Art  of  Growing  Flowers  7 

when  if  easy-growing  plants  were  attempted  at 
first,  the  knowledge  gained  by  working  with  them 
would  be  a  good  start  toward  caring  for  the  tender 
plants.  Many  of  the  less  hardy  plants  are  most 
beautiful,  and  it  is  well  worth  one's  while  to  spend 
time  on  cultivating  them. 

So  let  us  hope  that  America  is  coming  to  the 
adoption  of  gardening  as  her  art.  This  is  an  art 
every  housewife  can  practice  while  about  her 
daily  work,  and  the  cheer  she  receives  from  watch- 
ing a  tender  young  plant  begin  to  take  on  growth 
will  help  wonderfully  in  creating  the  right  kind 
of  home  atmosphere  for  her  family. 


ESSENTIALS  IN   GARDENING 

THE  soil  and  the  air  produce  our  plants.  The 
air  furnishes  carbonic  acid,  which  is  of  the  most 
vital  importance,  and  the  soil  the  nourishment 
which  is  fed  to  the  plant  through  the  root.  Soil 
without  the  proper  elements  in  it  will  never 
produce  worth-while  vegetation.  A  child  cannot 
thrive  if  it  is  not  fed  the  proper  food,  and  plants, 
like  children,  differ  in  their  requirements.  The 
soil  must  be  suited  to  the  plant.  Some  plants 
require  a  rich  soil,  some  a  light  soil;  some  require 
a  great  deal  of  moisture  while  others  will  do  best 
in  a  semi-dry  state;  and  each  species  of  flower  must 
be  studied  individually  in  order  to  supply  it  with 
the  correct  proportions  of  nitrogen,  potash, 
and  phosphate,  the  three  essentials  in  plant 
nourishment. 

No  flower  will  do  its  best  in  a  hard,  dry  soil. 
Before  planting,  the  soil  should  be  thoroughly 
pulverized.  It  should  first  be  spaded  and 
harrowed  to  a  depth  of  from  one  to  two  feet  for 
the  average  garden  bed,  and  even  deeper  than  that 

8 


Essentials  in  Gardening  9 

for  plants  with  long  roots.  In  setting  out  young, 
tender  plants  in  the  garden  or  in  potting  house 
plants,  the  soil  should  be  made  as  fine  as  it  is 
possible  to  have  it.  A  good  method  to  follow  is  to 
procure  a  dirt  sifter  and  sift  the  earth  thoroughly. 
If  a  ready-made  sifter  can  be  procured  so  much 
the  better,  but  even  a  homemade  one  will  serve 
the  purpose  admirably.  It  can  easily  be  made  by 
simply  nailing  a  piece  of  one  sixteenth  of  an  inch 
wire  mesh  to  a  wooden  frame  and  setting  this 
slantingly  on  a  support,  or  by  leaning  it  up  against 
a  fence.  The  soil  should  be  thrown,  a  shovelful 
at  a  time,  against  the  wire,  when  all  the  soft,  fine 
sand  will  go  through  and  fall  on  the  under  side, 
and  the  coarse  particles  which  cannot  go  through 
will  fall  in  front  of  the  sifter.  The  sifted  sand  will 
be  excellent. 

Soil  should  always  be  analyzed  before  it  is 
fertilized.  An  amateur  cannot  tell  what  the  soil 
requires  until  the  plant  has  grown  and  either 
flourished  or  suffered  from  the  soil  conditions. 
A  soil  already  rich  in  nitrogen  should  not  have 
nitrogenous  food  added  to  it  or  the  plants  will 
die  from  overfeeding.  Nitrates  are  among  the 
most  commonly  used  fertilizers  but  most  gardens 
could  stand  more  phosphate  than  they  usually 
get.  Phosphate  is  the  flower-producing  fertilizer, 


io  Essentials  in  Gardening 

and  unless  there  is  a  sufficient  quantity  of 
phosphate  in  the  form  of  bone  meal,  basic  slag, 
or  a  similar  product,  the  plants  may  grow  and 
flourish  with  regard  to  leaf  and  stem  and  the 
flowers  be  pale  and  sickly.  Potash  is  beneficial 
to  flowers  which  are  valued  for  their  fragrance. 

The  planting  of  seed  in  a  way  to  obtain  the  best 
results  is  simple,  but  in  order  to  produce  the 
greatest  number  of  seedlings  from  the  amount  of 
seed  sown  they,  like  everything  else  in  the  garden, 
must  be  handled  carefully  and  not  sown  in  a 
haphazard  fashion.  The  soil  for  seed  should 
always  be  finely  pulverized  and  then  baked  in  a 
hot  oven  for  an  hour  or  more  to  kill  any  seed  of 
weeds  which  may  be  laying  dormant.  If  this  is 
not  done  weeds  are  likely  to  come  up  in  profusion 
and  if  not  detected  at  once  and  pulled  out  the 
flower  seedlings  will  be  puny  and  unhealthy  for 
lack  of  the  nourishment  which  the  weeds  have 
stolen.  Seeds  require  warmth,  moisture,  and  air 
in  order  to  germinate,  and  if  either  of  these  is 
lacking  there  will  be  a  poor  crop.  The  atmosphere 
of  the  seed  bed  should  be  kept  as  fine  as  possible 
so  that  the  young  plants  when  first  bursting  forth 
from  the  soil  may  not  be  injured  by  being  chilled, 
otherwise  they  may  never  reach  maturity.  The 
bed  should  be  kept  not  wet  but  slightly  moist  in 


Essentials  in  Gardening  n 

order  to  aid  in  bursting  the  pods  open,  and  there 
must  be  plenty  of  fresh  air  to  supply  carbonic  acid, 
on  which  so  much  depends. 

The  depth  at  which  seeds  should  be  planted 
varies  with  the  size  of  the  seed.  A  very  fine  seed 
may  be  sown  broadcast  and  no  covering  of  earth 
whatever  applied,  all  that  is  necessary  being  to 
press  the  earth  down  flat  and  firm  with  some  flat 
surface,  preferably  a  board.  Larger  seed  will 
require  a  trench  or  a  sprinkling  of  earth  scattered 
over  them,  while  the  very  large  seeds,  such  as 
nasturtiums,  moonflowers,  and  others  of  the  same 
size,  may  be  placed  on  the  surface  of  well-prepared 
soil  and  gently  pushed  down  into  the  earth  with  the 
flat  end  of  a  lead  pencil,  reaching  a  depth  of  two  or 
three  times  the  diameter  of  the  seed.  Absolutely 
fresh  seed  should  always  be  procured  if  possible,  as 
a  very  small  percentage  of  seed  has  vigorous 
life  after  the  first  year  and  some  will  not  even 
germinate.  The  seed  bed  should  be  kept  moist, 
but  never  wet,  otherwise  the  seed  will  rot  before 
they  can  germinate,  or  if  they  have  germinated 
the  young  seedlings  will  drop  off.  If  the  earth  is 
allowed  to  become  dry  and  hard,  then  wet  and 
soft  alternately,  only  a  dismal  failure  will  confront 
the  gardener  at  the  end  of  the  period  set  for  seed 
germination. 


12  Essentials  in  Gardening 

When  the  young  seedlings  have  appeared  they 
should  not  be  tampered  with  until  they  have 
attained  a  growth  of  an  inch  or  more,  other  than 
to  pull  out  any  weeds  which  may  have  started, 
but  if  the  earth  has  been  baked  preparatory  to 
planting,  there  will  not  be  many  weeds. 

If  the  seeds  have  been  very  successful  in  ger- 
mination, they  may  come  up  too  thickly,  in  which 
case  some  of  the  less  hardy  ones  should  be  thinned 
out  to  give  the  best  plants  every  opportunity,  and 
after  they  have  grown  a  couple  of  good  leaves, 
they  are  ready  for  transplanting,  if  they  are  to  be 
transplanted.  They  should  not  remain  too  long 
in  the  seed  bed,  for  plants  which  bear  transplanting 
will  benefit  by  having  their  soil  changed  as  soon 
as  they  are  old  enough  to  stand  it. 

Transplanting  is  a  new  era  of  life  to  the  young 
plant,  and  the  work  requires  the  utmost  care. 
Occasionally  a  plant  will  grow  and  flourish  if  it 
has  been  pulled  up  by  the  roots  and  stuck  in  a 
hole  in  the  ground,  but  to  insure  success,  all 
vegetation  should  be  carefully  handled  in  trans- 
planting. In  most  cases  the  soil  should  be 
moderately  moist  and  the  earth  should  be  warm 
enough  that  there  will  be  no  danger  of  chill  caused 
by  transferring  the  plant  to  new  soil.  A  good 
clump  of  earth  should  always  be  removed  with 


Essentials  in  Gardening  13 

the  roots  in  transferring  it  from  one  location  to 
another.  This  will  keep  the  roots  from  getting  a 
shock  at  the  removal.  After  transplanting,  the 
soil  should  be  tamped  down  firmly, — with  the  hand 
for  the  house  plants  and  with  the  foot  for  garden 
plants, — a  little  indenture  being  made  around  the 
stem  so  that  water  will  not  drain  off.  In  some 
cases  water  should  be  applied  to  the  roots  of  the 
plant  as  they  are  put  into  the  hole,  this  treatment 
depending  upon  the  atmospheric  conditions,  as 
well  as  upon  the  dryness  of  the  soil.  In  the  case 
of  full-grown  plants,  shrubs,  and  trees,  water 
should  always  be  poured  on  the  roots. 

After  young  plants  have  been  set  in  their  new 
home  and  after  large  plants  have  been  permanently 
located,  the  time  for  cultivation  is  at  hand. 
Without  it  nothing  but  weeds  will  thrive.  Hoes, 
spades,  forks,  and  trowels  will  be  necessary  for  this 
work,  the  larger  implements  for  working  with 
large  plants  in  outdoor  gardening  where  there  is 
plenty  of  space  between  the  vegetation,  and  the 
smaller  forks  and  trowels  for  use  in  cultivating 
house  plants  and  small  garden  flowers  which  have 
many  fine  roots.  Cultivation  should  be  given 
frequently,  otherwise  the  plants  will  not  flourish. 
An  occasional  digging  around  the  plants  now  and 
then  will  not  be  of  much  benefit.  Cultivation 


14  Essentials  in  Gardening 

not  only  conserves  the  moisture  in  the  soil  but  it 
permits  the  air  to  reach  the  roots  of  the  plant  as 
well.  Hard,  dry  earth  must  be  broken  up.  Roots 
cannot  push  their  way  through  it  when  in  search 
of  nourishment,  and  the  growth  of  the  stems 
and  leaves  will  be  retarded  when  root  growth  is 
retarded. 

Weeds  must  be  kept  down.  If  they  once  get  a 
start  they  are  hard  to  eradicate,  hence  vigilance 
must  be  exercised  from  the  beginning.  Often 
there  is  no  other  remedy  than  to  pull  these 
nuisances  up  by  hand  or  with  the  weeding  hook, 
which  will  be  found  most  serviceable,  as  any  appli- 
cation to  kill  the  roots  of  weeds  will  be  likely 
to  result  in  poisoning  the  roots  of  flowers  as  well. 

Watering  the  flowers  is  something  that  every 
gardener  must  expect  to  have  to  do  and  to  do  with 
regularity.  Even  out  of  doors  rain  cannot  be 
depended  upon.  Water  furnishes  the  sap  which 
courses  through  the  stems  and  leaves,  and  without 
the  amount  of  moisture  suited  to  its  individual 
need  no  plant  can  grow  luxuriously.  Often  when  a 
plant  is  not  thriving,  all  that  is  needed  is  water. 
Large  plants  and  trees  should  have  a  pipe  driven 
into  the  ground  near  them,  and  the  water  should 
be  poured  down  this  by  means  of  a  funnel  stuck 
in  the  upper  end  of  the  pipe.  In  this  way  the 


Essentials  in  Gardening  15 

water  will  reach  the  roots  in  dry  weather,  and  it  is 
really  not  of  very  much  importance  whether  the 
surface  of  the  ground  is  wet  or  not.  Plants 
should  be  studied  and  notes  should  be  made  as  to 
just  which  require  an  abundance  of  moisture  and 
which  do  not.  An  occasional  watering  after  the 
earth  has  grown  hard  and  dry  is  better  than  none 
but  it  will  not  do  much  to  promote  growth. 


SPECIAL  FEATURES  OF  THE  GARDEN 

THE  flowers  which  give  the  greatest  pleasure 
are  those  which  can  be  cut  and  attractively 
arranged  in  vases  for  indoor  decoration.  Not  all 
flowers  are  suitable  for  cutting,  and  every  garden 
should  be  planned  with  a  view  to  having  some 
blossoms  for  the  house  at  all  seasons  of  the  year. 
Short-stemmed  flowers  for  small  bowls  and  dishes 
and  long-stemmed  ones  for  tall  vases  will  prove  a 
constant  source  of  pleasure  for  the  woman  who 
would  give  to  her  living  room  a  note  of  cheer  and 
to  her  dining  table  add  an  extra  charm.  Flowers 
that  shatter  easily  are  good  only  for  the  yard,  and 
while  many  of  these  are  so  pretty  in  their  delicacy 
that  no  gardener  would  want  to  eliminate  them, 
they  must  not  be  permitted  to  occupy  so  much 
space  that  there  will  be  no  room  for  more  hardy 
blossoms.  The  beds  should  be  planted  with  a 
view  to  having  a  variety  of  color,  for  however 
beautiful  the  flower  may  be,  it  will  not  receive 
as  much  appreciation  if  it  is  used  continuously 
instead  of  being  alternated  with  other  blossoms. 

16 


Special  Features  of  the  Garden        17 

For  cut  flowers  the  deepest  shades  usually  give 
the  greatest  pleasure.  There  is  nearly  always  sur- 
rounding color  indoors  and  not  the  quantity  of 
green  for  a  background  which  is  afforded  in  the 
open  garden,  and  pale,  delicate  hues  are  likely 
to  lose  their  identity  amid  the  strong  contrasting 
colors  of  indoor  decoration. 

The  style  of  vase  for  cut  flowers  will  have  an 
important  bearing  upon  their  appearance,  and  the 
beauty  will  be  either  enhanced  or  detracted  from 
according  to  whether  the  right  vase  or  the  wrong 
one  is  used.  Long-stemmed  heavy  flowers  placed 
in  a  delicate  dainty  vase  will  not  show  to  advan- 
tage, while  short-stemmed  blossoms  stuck  in  the 
top  of  a  tall  vase  will  certainly  seem  out  of  pro- 
portion if  not  somewhat  ridiculous.  Vases  should 
never  be  gaudy  in  appearance,  nor  even  profusely 
decorated.  If  a  vase  is  to  be  used  as  a  piece  of 
statuary  it  may  be  of  fanciful  design,  but  the  vase 
used  to  display  flowers  should  be  simple  in  line 
and  decoration.  Yellow  daffodils  in  a  plain  yellow 
pottery  vase  will  be  most  beautiful,  as  will  pink 
roses  in  a  pink  rose-bowl,  but  not  red  roses  in  a 
pink  rose-bowl.  And  flowers  should  never  be 
crowded  in  the  vase.  Nature  does  not  crowd  her 
flowers  on  a  stem  and  the  more  natural  the 
arrangement,  the  more  beautiful  the  flowers. 


1 8       Special  Features  of  the  Garden 

Cut  flowers  cannot  be  procured  every  month  of 
the  year  unless  one  has  a  greenhouse  or  patronizes 
a  florist  constantly,  so  a  simple  and  inexpensive 
way  of  insuring  flowers  is  to  have  a  collection 
in  pots.  Everyone  can  have  one  or  more  house 
plants.  There  is  really  no  excuse  in  the  world 
which  will  hold  good  when  it  comes  to  denying 
a  house  the  right  to  a  blossom.  No  other  mark 
of  decoration  will  do  so  much  for  a  room  and  no 
other  object  will  yield  so  much  pleasure  as  the 
growing  plant.  Outdoors  much  of  their  real  value 
is  lost  among  the  foliage  of  other  plants,  but  in- 
doors they  receive  the  appreciation  due  them,  and 
among  objects  remaining  stationary  day  after  day 
the  growing  plant,  with  its  ever-changing  form, 
will  be  of  great  interest. 

A  variety  of  color  among  the  house  plants  should 
be  selected;  and  if  the  plants  are  kept  in  the 
conservatory,  or  some  place  which  serves  as  a 
conservatory,  and  are  brought  out  one  at  a  time 
and  placed  in  the  living  room  or  on  the  dining- 
room  table,  each  will  be  a  new  delight  in  its  turn. 
No  house  plant  should  remain  more  than  two  or 
three  days  in  the  living  room  without  being 
replaced  by  another  while  it  is  set  in  the  sunlight 
again,  otherwise  it  will  soon  droop. 

House  plants  usually  get  plenty  of  attention,  as 


Special  Features  of  the  Garden        19 

generally  they  are  placed  within  easy  reach  of  the 
houseworker,  and  it  is  more  readily  observed  when 
they  are  in  need  of  water  and  when  bugs  and 
worms  are  making  their  raids.  An  old  fork  kept 
handy  will  insure  frequent  cultivation,  for  it  is 
an  easy  matter  to  dig  around  a  plant  when  an 
implement  is  near  at  hand,  while  the  plants  might 
be  neglected  if  search  had  to  be  made  for  a  fork 
or  trowel. 

As  a  rule  very  few  plants  are  used  as  house 
plants,  while  there  really  is  a  great  variety  which 
can  be  grown  successfully  indoors.  A  list  of  such 
plants,  will  be  found  by  referring  to  the  index. 
House  plants  should  be  transferred  to  the  open 
ground  in  the  summer  time.  Taken  out  of  doors 
and  allowed  to  stay,  they  will  thrive  splendidly 
and  the  new  growth  will  have  become  hardened 
for  the  fall.  Pot  and  plant  should  be  set  in  the 
ground  together  and  there  will  not  have  to  be  a 
retransplanting  when  the  plants  go  back  to  the 
greenhouse  in  the  autumn,  with  root  disturbance 
attendant  upon  removal. 

The  location  for  house  plants  should  be  one  of 
the  best  in  the  house.  They  require  sunlight  and 
air,  and  a  southern  exposure  will  be  admirable, 
for  not  having  to  fight  the  cold  drafts  which  seep 
through  the  cracks  on  the  north  side  of  the  house 


20       Special  Features  of  the  Garden 

they  will  not  run  the  constant  risk  of  chill.    If  glass 
is  between  them  and  the  sun  so  much  the  better. 

A  specie  of  plants  which  are  not  commonly 
cultivated  are  the  water  plants.  They  not  only 
provide  a  flower  different  in  type  from  the  garden 
plants  but  they  are  novelties  which  soon  win  their 
way  into  the  hearts  of  flower  lovers  and  retain 
for  themselves  a  prominent  place  in  the  garden 
catalogues .  Water  plants  may  be  grown  with  equal 
success  indoors  or  out  if  the  conditions  are  favor- 
able, and  while  the  variety  is  not  extensive  most 
of  them  are  beautiful  enough  that  the  owners 
will  not  tire  of  them.  There  is  no  flower  more 
beautiful  in  form  nor  more  delicious  in  fragrance 
than  the  old-fashioned  pond  lily.  It  grows  and 
flourishes  from  Maine  to  Florida  and  from  Cali- 
fornia to  New  York,  though  its  season  is  short 
in  the  colder  sections  of  the  country.  However 
it  is  well  worth  cultivating  for  the  short  time  it 
does  last.  This  flower  is  not  often  used  as  an 
indoor  plant  because  of  its  demand  for  water,  and 
yet  where  it  can  be  used  it  furnishes  a  most 
beautiful  means  of  decoration.  I  once  attended  a 
wedding  in  the  little  town  of  Bagdad,  Florida,  at 
eight  o'clock  in  the  morning,  where  the  decoration 
consisted  solely  of  pond  lilies  and  smilax  in  Kate 
Greenaway  baskets  hanging  from  the  chandeliers 


Special  Features  of  the  Garden       21 

and  other  convenient  places.  This  was  a  novel 
flower  decoration  and  it  meant  gathering  lilies  at 
five  o'clock  in  the  morning,  but  who  would  really 
mind  being  one  of  a  gay  bridal  party  gathering 
pond  lilies  even  at  that  hour?  One  objection 
which  is  frequently  uttered  against  the  garden 
pool  is  that  it  breeds  mosquito  larvae,  but  this 
objectional  feature  can  be  avoided  by  placing  in 
the  pool  a  small  collection  of  goldfish  which  will 
eat  the  larvae  and  at  the  same  time  add  to  the 
charm  of  the  pool. 

In  close  proximity  to  the  pool  or  collection  of 
pools  may  be  placed  the  rock  garden.  The  land- 
scape plan  naturally  calls  for  this  proximity  and 
water  near  the  rocks  will  seem  a  natural  result 
though  it  may  be  wholly  man's  arrangement. 
Some  of  our  most  beautiful  plants  will  thrive 
best  in  the  rock  garden,  with  its  well-drained  soil 
and  the  heavy  foundation  of  rock  surface  which 
lends  value  to  the  beauty  of  the  surroundings  and 
furnishes  splendid  background  for  the  reds,  whites, 
greens,  blues,  and  yellows  of  the  flowers  growing 
among  them.  No  attempt  is  made  to  enumerate 
here  the  variety  of  plants  which  are  suitable  for 
the  rock  garden.  This  list  is  reserved  for  another 
page. 

The  season  for  blossoms  in  the  rock  garden  is 


22        Special  Features  of  the  Garden 

limited,  and  the  plant  that  can  be  transplanted 
without  harm  had  best  be  started  in  the  hotbed 
in  paper  cups  or  dirt  bands  and  transferred  to  the 
garden  after  the  sun  has  warmed  the  soil  in  the 
early  spring. 

While  the  majority  of  the  plants  for  the  rock 
garden  should  be  of  a  spreading  nature  there  is 
always  a  place  for  tall  growing  plants  such  as  the 
dianthus,  snapdragon,  and  phlox,  and  there  will  be 
very  apt  to  be  nooks  and  corners  which  will  need 
some  of  the  taller  plants  to  serve  as  a  background. 
A  variety  of  color  should  be  planned  and  bright 
reds,  brilliant  blues,  and  deep  yellows  should  be 
generously  supplied,  otherwise  the  dark  rocks  will 
give  the  garden  a  more  or  less  cheerless  aspect. 
Here  probably  more  than  in  any  other  part  of  the 
garden  one  should  strive  for  balance  in  coloring. 
The  rock  garden  should  be  planned  as  early  in  the 
season  as  the  weather  will  permit,  for  most  rock- 
garden  plants  blossom  during  the  early  summer 
months.  The  soil  should  be  most  carefully  mixed 
and  a  good  composition  is  one  part  leaf -mold,  two 
parts  of  loam  or  turfy  soil,  and  one  part  of  sand. 
A  little  lime  can  be  added  to  advantage  in  the 
places  where  edelweiss,  saxifrages,  primroses,  and 
poppies  are  planted,  or  the  soil  may  become  a  bit 
sour  for  them. 


Special  Features  of  the  Garden       23 

Gardening  can  hardly  be  carried  on  advan- 
tageously without  the  aid  of  a  greenhouse  or  a 
hotbed,  and  as  the  majority  of  gardeners  cannot 
afford  a  greenhouse  a  plea  is  entered  for  the  hot- 
bed, which  anyone  can  afford.  In  the  following 
pages  are  suggestions  for  making  and  caring  for 
the  hotbed,  which  will  show  how  simple  it  really  is, 
though  it  is  generally  looked  upon  as  being  some- 
thing difficult  to  make  and  as  more  or  less  hard 
to  operate. 

With  the  aid  of  the  hotbed  the  length  of  the 
flower  season  is  increased  almost  one  third.  In 
the  hotbed  only  can  heat,  light,  and  air  be  properly 
regulated  for  tender  young  plants.  When  the 
attempt  is  made  to  plant  seed  indoors  in  boxes, 
awaiting  transplanting  to  the  out-of-doors  later, 
they  are  often  killed  by  someone  thoughtlessly 
leaving  the  door  open  and  creating  a  draft,  or  by 
neglect  to  keep  them  supplied  with  moisture,  as 
watering  so  often  means  wetting  the%  floor  unless 
the  box  has  unusually  good  drainage.  When  the 
soil  becomes  dry  and  hard,  and  wet  and  soggy, 
alternately,  they  will  not  live.  The  hotbed  has  no 
other  motive  than  to  protect  and  promote  the  life 
of  young  plants,  and  it  should  be  placed  in  a  corner 
so  easy  to  reach  that  when  the  hardening-off  pro- 
cess has  begun  the  plants  may  receive  daily  atten- 


24       Special  Features  of  the  Garden 

tion  without  giving  too  much  trouble.  When  a 
hotbed  is  once  started  it  will  not  require  much 
thought.  Soil  need  only  be  changed  every  two  or 
three  years,  though  occasionally  a  little  fertilizer 
may  be  added  while  the  plants  are  growing  or 
before  the  seeds  are  planted.  This  had  best  be 
added  with  growing  plants  in  liquid  form  in  order 
not  to  disturb  the  young  roots.  And  so  I  would 
advise  every  gardener  to  provide  himself  or  herself 
with  a  hotbed  of  as  generous  proportions  as  his 
garden  demands. 


GROWING  FLOWERS 

Abutilon 

The  abutilon  makes  an  excellent  climbing  plant. 
The  shoots  should  be  pruned  back  each  spring 
and  the  main  stem  fastened  to  the  trellis  or  other 
support  on  which  it  is  to  climb.  It  requires  a  rich 
soil  and  good  drainage,  though  the  earth  should  be 
kept  moderately  moist. 

Abutilon  plants  are  among  the  most  beautiful  of 
plants  for  the  house.  It  is  very  easy  to  grow  if 
given  a  good  loam  soil  and  sufficient  drainage  by 
placing  pebbles  in  .the  bottom  of  the  pot. 

Achillea 

The  achillea  is  a  most  satisfactory  plant  when 
rapid  growth  is  desired  to  spread  over  a  bare  space. 
It  will  thrive  in  ordinary  garden  soil,  and  is  at  its 
best  when  massed  in  large  clumps.  The  seed 
should  be  sown  in  the  hotbed,  or  indoors,  and  the 

25 


26  Growing  Flowers 

young  seedlings  transplanted  to  the  garden  as 
soon  as  danger  of  frost  is  over. 

The  outer  shoots  of  the  achillea  should  be  removed 
to  keep  it  from  spreading  to  spaces  designed  for  other 
plants  or  it  may  soon  crowd  them  out.  It  should 
be  staked  to  keep  it  in  good  condition,  as  the 
branches  will  soon  lie  flat  on  the  ground  and  the 
rain  will  beat  the  earth  upon  them  to  their  detri- 
ment. 

Achillea  plants  require  little  attention  after  they 
have  once  attained  a  good  growth.  The  soil  will  not 
demand  much  in  the  way  of  fertilizer,  a  little 
liquid  fertilizer  applied  once  a  year  being  all  that  is 
needed  usually,  though  to  lift  the  plants  and  work 
into  the  soil  a  little  manure  will  be  beneficial 
every  two  or  three  years. 


Ageratum 

Ageratum  grows  well  in  almost  all  soils  and 
through  a  wide  range  of  climate.  The  seed  may 
be  sown  in  the  cold  frame  in  March  and  the 
seedlings  transplanted  as  soon  as  the  ground  is 
warm  enough.  Seeds  sown  in  August  will  pro- 
duce good  plants  for  winter  flowering.  Everyone 


Growing  Flowers  27 

should  have  blue  ageratum,  at  least,  as  there  are 
so  few  blue  flowers. 

Ageratum  is  very  attractive  when  planted 
among  sweet  alyssum,  candytuft,  and  other  small 
plants. 


Alyssum 

Sweet  alyssum  should  be  given  a  liberal  amount  of 
fertilizer.  The  blossoms  are  profuse,  and  unless 
kept  fairly  enriched  the  foliage  will  be  dull  and 
unattractive,  sometimes  falling  off  altogether. 

Alyssum  should  be  sown  where  it  is  to  grow, 
though  it  may  be  transplanted  with  fairly  good 
results  as  soon  as  the  soil  is  warm  enough  in  the 
spring.  For  winter  bloom,  it  may  be  sown  in 
August.  The  plants  should  be  thinned  to  four 
inches  apart. 

Cuttings  may  be  made  from  alyssum,  using  only 
the  strong  new  side  shoots. 

To  cut  back  the  first  flowers  of  alyssum  when  they 
fade  will  cause  other  flowers  to  be  produced. 


28  Growing  Flowers 

Anchusa 

Cuttings  may  successfully  be  made  of  anchusa,  or 
alkanet,  from  stems  two  inches  in  length.  They 
should  be  rooted  in  light,  sandy  soil,  and  are  best 
made  in  the  fall  of  the  year.  The  flowers  of  the 
anchusa  are  great  favorites  with  the  bees  and  they 
are  among  the  few  beautiful -blue  flowers. 

Anchusa  plants  require  plenty  of  sunlight  and  a 
rich  loam  in  order  to  thrive  and  produce  the  best 
flowers.  The  plant  is  self-propagating  and  does 
not  require  a  great  deal  of  care.  When  it  branches 
out  and  crowds  other  plants,  it  will  be  benefited 
by  pruning,  removing  the  lower  branches  first. 

Anemone 

The  anemone  is  commonly  called  japonica,  or 
Japanese  windflower.  In  the  South  it  grows  to  be 
a  large  tree,  attaining  a  growth  of  ten  or  fifteen 
feet.  //  requires  a  rich  soil,  though  it  should  not 
be  too  heavy,  and  plenty  of  moisture. 

In  planting  anemone  as  a  hedge,  it  should  have 
an  extra  supply  of  fertilizer  applied  to  the  roots, 
as  the  root  growth  is  strong,  and  will  soon  take 
the  substance  from  the  soil.  This  plant  should 


Growing  Flowers  29 

be  removed  only  in  the  spring,  as  interfering  with 
the  roots  in  the  fall  will  disturb  them  so  that  they 
will  hardly  become  adjusted  before  cold  weather. 

The  Japanese  anemone  may  be  propagated  by 
cuttings.  The  cuttings  should  be  taken  from 
growth  a  year  old,  and  each  cutting  should  have 
one  or  more  joints.  The  joint  should  be  buried 
in  the  ground,  in  sandy  soil,  and  kept  very  moist 
until  the  roots  appear. 

Arbor-Vita 

The  arbor-vitae  lives  to  be  seventy-five  or  eighty 
years  old. 

The  arbor-vitce  requires  a  rich,  well-drained  soil  in 
order  to  produce  handsome  foliage,  for  which  it  is 
grown.  It  is  a  native  of  Japan  and  makes  a  hand- 
some hedge.  When  planted  merely  as  decorative 
shrubbery,  it  should  always  have  some  lighter 
leaved  evergreen  clustered  with  it,  otherwise,  it 
will  have  a  somber,  cemeterial  effect. 

Arbutus 

The  arbutus  requires  a  soil  composed  of  sandy 
peat  or  loam  which  is  moist,  but  well  drained.  It 
should  be  planted  where  it  is  to  remain,  as  it  does 


30  Growing  Flowers 

not  transplant  very  well  when  it  has  grown  to  a 
fairly  good  size. 

The  arbutus  is  a  most  satisfactory  plant  for  experi- 
ment in  grafting,  and  when  grafting  is  successful, 
flowers  of  two  colors,  and  also  variegated  flowers, 
may  be  found  on  the  same  tree. 

Asters 

Aster  seed  sown  in  the  open  ground  in  May  will 
bring  forth  blossoms  in  September  and  October, 
when  the  flowers  are  seen  at  their  best.  For  July 
and  August  flowering,  the  seed  should  be  sown  in 
the  hotbed  or  in  boxes  in  the  house.  They  should 
be  covered  to  a  depth  of  half  an  inch  and  covered 
with  rich,  light  soil.  When  the  seedlings  are 
transplanted  they  should  have  three  or  four  leaves 
and  should  stand  a  foot  and  a  half  apart 

Small  quantities  of  air-slaked  lime  or  of  fresh 
wood  ashes  stirred  into  the  surface  of  aster  beds 
will  prove  very  beneficial.  The  plants  require 
plenty  of  water. 

Fresh  manure  used  in  large  quantities  will 
usually  prove  injurious  to  asters.  Only  thoroughly 
composted  manure  should  be  used. 


Growing  Flowers  31 

When  asters  are  being  attacked  by  the  black  potato 
beetle,  the  plants  should  be  covered  with  mosquito 
netting  or  other  thin  cloth.  Green  netting  will 
enable  the  plants  to  show  through  better  than  if 
white  is  used. 

Nicotine  solution  should  be  used  on  asters  when  the 
black  beetles  make  their  attack.  The  asters  should 
be  closely  watched  for  this  pest,  for  it  does  great 
damage  in  a  very  short  while  after  its  appearance. 


Azalea 

The  azalea  belongs  to  the  rhododendron  family 
and  is  an  evergreen  generally  used  as  a  house 
plant.  It  requires  a  rich  soil  which  should  be  kept 
moderately  moist  at  all  times.  There  are  many 
varieties  in  the  color  of  the  flowers.  It  is  excel- 
lently adapted  for  grafting. 

Azaleas  for  Christmas  blooming  should  be  forced 
about  the  middle  of  November.  The  plants  should 
be  kept  in  a  temperature  of  60  degrees  if  the  buds 
have  already  shown  color,  otherwise  a  warmer 
temperature  will  be  necessary.  The  plants  should 
be  hardened  by  taking  them  gradually  into  a 


32  Growing  Flowers 

cooler  temperature  before  they  are  taken  out  of 
doors. 


A  potted  azalea  may  be  planted  out  of  doors 
during  the  summer,  the  plant  remaining  in  the 
pot,  and  taken  up  again  in  the  fall  with  excellent 
results.  Plants  will  blossom  profusely  for  several 
winters  just  at  Christmas  time  if  properly  cared  for. 
It  should  have  a  great  deal  of  sunlight  for  several 
weeks  before  Christmas. 

Azaleas  should  be  pruned  immediately  after  the 
flowers  fade,  and  the  plants  should  be  kept  in  a 
warm  moist  temperature  for  several  weeks  after 
pruning  when  they  should  be  brought  to  the  fresh 
air  and  sunlight  to  remain  until  fall. 

In  potting  azaleas,  the  earth  should  be  put  into 
the  pot  in  layers  and  each  layer  packed  down  firm. 
Loose  soil  will  prove  detrimental  to  the  root 
growth  and  the  plants  will  not  flourish. 

Azaleas  require  very  careful  watering.  If  they 
become  dry  they  will  soon  die.  If  too  much 
water  is  applied  to  them,  they  will  damp  off. 
They  should  be  kept  moderately  moist  at  all 
times. 


Growing  Flowers  33 

Leaf -mold  should  be  applied  to  azaleas  and  laurel, 
and  plenty  of  dead  leaves  placed  over  the  surface 
in  the  fall  will  help  to  make  leaf -mold.  For  leaves 
to  remain  on  the  soil  near  the  plants  during  the 
summer  will  also  be  beneficial,  tending  to  keep 
the  earth  damp  and  moist. 

Bachelor' s-Button 

Bachelor's-button  will  thrive  under  almost  any 
soil  condition,  and  about  the  only  attention  it 
needs  is  to  renew  the  soil  once  in  every  two  years. 
It  grows  rapidly  and  should  not  be  planted  among 
other  small  plants  or  it  will  soon  crowd  them  out. 
It  is  most  suitable  for  corners  where  it  is  difficult 
to  get  less  hardy  plants  to  grow. 

Bachelor's-button  is  most  attractive  when  set  out 
in  groups.  Single  plants  do  not  appear  to 
advantage.  In  large  numbers,  the  flowers  are 
suitable  for  cutting. 

Balsam 

The  old-fashioned  balsam  requires  rich  soil,  a  hot 
sun,  and  plenty  of  water.  The  plants  are  quick 
growers,  and  seed  sown  in  the  ground  in  May  will 


34  Growing  Flowers 

blossom  eight  weeks  later.     They  should  be  from 
twelve  to  eighteen  inches  apart. 

Transplanting  balsam  plants  two  or  three  times 
will  dwarf  the  plants  into  a  pretty  shape  and  will 
also  make  the  flowers  more  double. 


Begonias 

Begonias  serve  both  as  a  plant  and  as  a  flower, 
with  their  beautifully  colored  leaves.  They  require 
rich,  moist  soil  and  plenty  of  sunlight,  as  well  as 
plenty  of  room  for  their  roots  to  spread. 

Begonias  are  among  the  most  delightful  of  house 
plants,  and  can  also  be  successfully  planted  in  the 
garden.  The  soil  should  be  very  rich  and  moist,  in 
order  to  produce  rapid  and  tender  growth  of  the 
leaves  for  which  the  plants  are  valued. 

When  begonias  have  stopped  blooming,  the  roots 
should  be  kept  dry  to  check  growth  and  give  the 
plants  a  rest.  After  a  week  or  so  water  may  again 
be  supplied,  when  fresh  shoots  will  come  forth  to 
be  taken  off  and  replanted  as  cuttings. 

One  very  satisfactory  way  of  preserving  tuberous 
begonia  bulbs  is  to  cut  off  the  foliage  when  they 


Growing  Flowers  35 

have  ceased  blooming  and  allow  the  earth  in  the 
pots  to  become  thoroughly  dried  out,  when  they 
should  be  set  away  in  a  dark  place.  They  should 
be  set  in  fresh,  new  soil  in  the  spring. 

Bellflower 

The  Japanese  bellflower  is  often  called  the  balloon 
flower.  The  soil  for  growing  these  flowers  should 
be  deep  and  rich,  but  not  too  heavy.  The  flowers 
should  be  covered  in  the  fall  with  a  mulch  of 
stable  manure  or  leaves. 

The  bellflower  blossoms  profusely  in  July  when 
propagated  in  the  spring  by  seed.  Root  division 
should  be  made  in  the  spring  of  the  year  also,  as 
the  plant  cannot  stand  the  change  of  soil  just 
before  cold  weather. 

When  planting  bellflower  plants,  never  bend  the 
roots  to  fit  the  hole.  Instead  dig  a  hole  deep 
enough  to  set  the  plant  in  it  with  the  roots  set 
straight.  To  bend  the  roots  may  bruise  them,  as 
they  are  tender. 

Blazing  Star 

The  blazing  star  should  be  set  in  a  fairly  rich  soil 
and  be  propagated  from  a  division  of  the  roots  in 


36  Growing  Flowers 

the  spring  or  from  cuttings,  though  the  former 
method  will  prove  the  more  satisfactory,  when 
roots  are  to  be  had. 

Bougainvillea 

When  the  bougainvillea  is  just  coming  into  flower 
it  should  not  be  allowed  to  become  dry,  but  should 
have  frequent  waterings  or  the  flowers  will  not 
thrive,  and  some  of  the  buds  may  never  even 
unfold. 

Bougainvillea  can  be  propagated  by  cuttings  of 
half -ripened  wood.  The  cuttings  should  be  taken 
from  the  plant  the  latter  part  of  February  or  the 
first  of  March  and  inserted  in  sandy  soil,  kept 
somewhat  moist,  until  the  roots  have  attained  a 
good  growth,  when  they  should  be  planted  in  rich, 
friable  soil. 

Bridal  Wreath 

The  bridal  wreath,  or  Francoa,  is  a  hardy  peren- 
nial in  the  Southern  States,  and  is  most  satisfactory 
either  as  a  garden  plant  or  for  cutting  to  decorate 
with  indoors.  The  soil  should  be  light  and  well 
drained,  though  the  plant  will  grow  in  almost  any 
soil. 


Growing  Flowers  37 

Plants  of  the  bridal  wreath  for  indoor  growing 
require  very  little  care.  A  soil  composed  of  fibrous 
loam,  leaf -mold,  compost,  and  sand  will  give  excel- 
lent results.  The  loam  should  predominate. 

Branches  of  the  bridal  wreath  may  be  successfully 
grafted  on  plants  of  different  colors,  with  very 
satisfactory  results.  Cuttings  may  be  rooted  easily 
by  placing  them  in  moist  sand  and  keeping  them 
fairly  warm. 

Butterfly  Flower 

Seed  of  the  schizanthus  or  butterfly  flower  should 
be  sown  under  glass  the  latter  part  of  March  or  the 
first  of  April.  If  sown  where  the  plants  are  to 
grow,  two  or  three  weeks  later  will  be  the  proper 
time.  Mixed  packages  usually  contain  good 
strains  of  seed.  Fairly  rich  soil  will  force  a  pretty 
growth  of  the  pinnate  foliage. 

The  butterfly  flower  is  equally  satisfactory  as  a 
house  plant  or  as  a  garden  annual.  The  stems 
should  be  supported  while  the  plants  are  very 
young. 

Calliopsis 

For  a  plant  having  flowers  for  a  long  season,  the 
calliopsis,  or  coreopsis,  is  as  satisfactory  as  any 


38  Growing  Flowers 

that  can  be  found.  It  is  easy  to  grow  and  is  well 
suited  for  both  outdoor  flowering  and  indoor 
decoration.  Its  colors  are  yellow,  brown,  and 
red,  and  are  very  rich  and  handsome. 

For  summer  flowers  in  localities  having  a  climate 
corresponding  to  that  of  New  York  City,  calliopsis 
seed  should  be  planted  in  the  hotbed  in  March. 
In  warmer  localities,  the  seed  may  be  sown  in  the 
open  ground  in  May.  The  flowers  will  last  until 
frost. 

Calliopsis  plants  should  be  staked  to  prevent  the 
heavy  rains  washing  the  stem  of  the  flowers  and 
beating  them  to  the  ground. 

The  calliopsis,  or  coreopsis,  requires  light  well- 
drained  soil,  and  the  plant  will  not  need  much 
cultivation.  To  produce  very  fine  showy  flowers, 
cultivation  will  be  necessary,  but  there  will  be  an 
abundance  of  flowers  if  left  alone. 

Candytuft 

As  an  edging  for  flower  beds,  the  little  old- 
fashioned  candytuft  will  be  most  pleasing.  The 
soil  should  be  rich  and  the  plants  should  be  kept 
moist. 


Growing  Flowers  39 

If  candytuft  is  grown  for  cutting  the  flowers,  some 
of  the  flowers,  at  least  half,  should  be  removed  in 
order  to  secure  large  blossoms  for  cutting. 

The  seed  of  candytuft  should  be  sown  in  the 
garden  during  the  month  of  April  in  the  location 
where  the  plants  are  to  grow,  and  the  plants 
should  be  thinned  when  they  have  attained  a 
height  of  an  inch  or  two.  Seed  planted  in  Sep- 
tember in  the  cold  frame  will  produce  flowers  for 
the  winter  months. 

Cannas 

r 

Cannas  require  a  rich  soil,  plenty  of  water,  and 
bright  sunlight  for  their  best  development,  hence  they 
should  never  be  planted  near  a  shade.  Their 
broad  leaves  need  a  great  deal  of  nourishment, 
and  unless  watered  freely  will  be  a  sickly  green. 

Cannas  and  dahlias  are  accustomed  to  warm 
climates  and  the  bulbs  will  not  stand  the  cold 
winter  very  well.  They  should  be  dug  up  in  the 
fall,  as  soon  as  flowering  ceases,  and  stored  in  the 
cellar  during  the  winter.  If  the  cellar  is  damp,  the 
bulbs  will  be  likely  to  freeze  if  cold  and  start 
growth  if  warm,  while  if  it  is  too  dry,  the  bulbs 
will  shrivel.  They  should  have  plenty  of  air. 


4O  Growing  Flowers 

All  the  earth  possible  should  be  left  dinging  to  the 
roots  or  bulbs  of  cannas  and  dahlias  when  taking 
them  up  to  store  away  for  the  winter. 

Cannas  and  caladiums  can  be  used  to  good  purpose 
in  shrub  borders  and  masking  groups  before  the 
shrubs  are  sufficiently  grown  to  produce  the  effect 
desired.  They  can  also  be  used  to  great  advan- 
tage with  the  castor-oil  bean. 

In  separating  roots  of  the  cannas  for  the  next 
summer's  beds,  a  piece  of  the  old  stem  should 
remain  attached  to  each  piece  of  root.  This 
division  of  roots  may  be  started  in  February  or 
March  with  good  results. 


Canterbury    Bell 

The  Canterbury  bell  requires  a  rich,  sandy  soil 
•with  good  drainage  in  order  to  thrive,  though  it 
will  grow  under  rather  adverse  conditions. 

Canterbury  bells  comprise  perennial,  biennial, 
and  annual  flowering  plants,  and  there  should  be  a 
place  for  this  little  flower  in  every  garden.  For 
outdoor  effects,  they  are  glorious,  and  they  can 
be  grown  with  equal  success  in  pots. 


Growing  Flowers  41 

The  seeds  of  biennial  Canterbury  bells  should  be 
sown  out  of  doors  in  July,  while  annuals  should  be 
sown  in  April  or  early  in  May.  There  are  two 
ways  of  preserving  the  perennials.  One  is  to 
cover  the  outdoor  plants  with  leaves  or  manure 
and  another  is  to  transfer  the  outdoor  plants  to 
pots  during  the  winter,  setting  them  in  the  garden 
again  as  soon  as  the  ground  grows  warm. 

The  Canterbury  bell,  or  slipperwort,  or  bell 
flower  makes  a  beautiful  Easter  plant.  The 
plants  of  the  season  previous  should  be  kept 
pruned  to  produce  flower  buds  at  the  right  season. 

Carnations 

Carnations  require  a  rich  soil  and  an  abundance  of 
moisture  if  they  are  to  flower  profusely.  They 
may  be  started  in  dirt  bands  and  transplanted 
to  the  ground  when  danger  of  frost  is  over.  The 
plants  should  not  stand  nearer  than  ten  inches 
apart. 

To  root  cuttings  of  carnations,  strip  the  shoots 
that  grow  around  the  base  of  all  the  leaves  growing 
on  the  lower  half,  and  bend  these  shoots  into  the 
ground,  making  an  incision  with  a  sharp  knife 
on  the  under  side  of  the  shoot.  Pin  the  shoot 


42  Growing  Flowers 

down  with  two  small  sticks  in  the  form  of  a  crotch 
and  do  not  disturb  for  a  couple  of  weeks  or  longer. 

Carnations  will  root  in  boxes  oj  sand  quite  readily. 
The  shoot  should  be  cut  near  a  knot  and  the 
cutting  should  be  four  or  five  inches  in  length. 

A  little  indigo  blue,  placed  in  the  water  in  which 
carnations  are  placed  after  being  cut,  will  color 
white  carnations  a  pretty  blue.  In  trying  to  get 
red,  white,  and  blue  flowers  for  decorative  pur- 
poses on  Washington's  birthday,  or  at  other  times 
when  blue  flowers  are  hard  to  obtain,  this  plan 
should  be  used. 

February  and  March  are  the  best  months  in  which 
to  plant  carnations.  Carnations  should  have  good 
drainage  but  the  soil  should  be  kept  moderately 
moist,  particularly  while  the  seeds  are  germinating. 
The  seedlings  should  be  hardened  before  being 
transplanted. 

A  soil  highly  recommended  for  carnations  is 
composed  of  one  part  of  barnyard  manure  mixed 
with  three  parts  of  fibrous  loam  and  two  parts  of 
coarse  sand.  This  should  be  well  mixed  and  kept 
in  a  damp  place  a  month  before  using,  when  a 
couple  of  ounces  of  basic  slag  may  be  added  to 
act  as  a  tonic  for  the  flowers. 


Growing  Flowers  43 

Carnations  will  be  much  benefited  by  a  fertilizer 
composed  of  an  ounce  each  of  sulphate  of  ammonia, 
kainit,  and  a  superphosphate,  dissolved  in  three 
gallons  of  water. 

Castor-Oil  Bean 

The  castor  bean  plant  is  very  desirable  for  making 
shade  in  sunny  spots,  as  well  as  for  forming  a  very 
pretty  temporary  hedge.  It  grows  very  rapidly 
and  often  reaches  a  height  of  ten  feet. 

The  castor  bean  requires  a  rich  soil  and  plenty 
of  moisture,  but  it  will  thrive  very  well  indeed  in  a 
sandy  soil  and  with  little  moisture.  It  is,  indeed, 
one  of  the  easiest  of  plants  to  grow. 

When  planting  castor  beans  for  shrubbery  or 
hedge,  plant  them  sufficiently  far  apart  that  the 
lower  part  of  the  plant  may  receive  plenty  of 
sunlight  and  the  leaves  branch  out  near  the 
bottom. 

The  use  of  the  castor  bean  plant  with  cannas, 
caladium,  scarlet  sage,  or  coleus  will  produce  a  very 
striking  effect,  and  as  a  background  for  lower 
growing  plants  it  has  no  equal  among  garden 
annuals.  Its  rich,  luxuriant  growth  produces  a 
semi- tropical  effect. 


44  Growing  Flowers 

Chrysanthemums 

Chrysanthemums  bloom  more  satisfactorily  if  the 
seeds  are  sown  in  hotbeds  and  the  young  plants 
transplanted  to  the  open  as  soon  as  the  soil  has 
become  sufficiently  warm  to  receive  them.  They 
should  be  set  about  a  foot  apart  when  set  in 
permanent  locations. 

If  chrysanthemum  buds  are  pinched  back  the 
work  will  be  rewarded  by  a  great  increase  in  the 
size  of  the  flowers,  as  well  as  by  branching  and 
stocky  plants. 

Chrysanthemums  in  pots  require  liberal  feeding 
with  fertilizers  from  August  until  the  flowers  come 
out.  Liquid  manure  is  the  simplest  way  of 
fertilizing  them. 

Chrysanthemums  require  a  rich,  well-drained  loam. 

Lice  frequently  take  up  their  abode  on  the  tender 
terminal  shoots  of  the  chrysanthemums.  To  get  rid 
of  them,  the  leaves  should  be  sprayed  with  a 
commercial  nicotine  solution  or  with  water  in 
which  smoking  or  plug  tobacco  has  been  steeped 
for  several  hours.  Soaking  the  tobacco  in  cold 
water  for  twenty-four  hours  will  answer. 


Growing  Flowers  45 

Propagating  chrysanthemums  from  seed  makes  a 
very  interesting  study.  Seeds  saved  from  single- 
flowering  plants  often  produce  greatly  improved 
varieties.  The  plants  usually  will  be  thrifty  and 
will  bloom  the  first  year. 

Cuttings  of  chrysanthemums  should  be  inserted 
in  pots  of  sandy  soil.  They  should  not  be  kept  in 
a  room  which  has  a  great  deal  of  heat,  for  they  are 
a  cold-weather  plant.  As  soon  as  they  are  well 
rooted  they  should  be  transferred  to  a  rich  loam 
with  which  has  been  mixed  a  little  leaf  soil  and 
sand. 

When  it  is  desired  to  produce  fine  large  chrys- 
anthemums without  regard  to  the  number  of  flowers, 
all  but  one  bud  should  be  pinched  off  as  soon  as 
they  appear.  Usually  the  first  crown  bud  which 
forms  in  the  apex  of  the  shoot  will  be  the  largest 
flower. 

An  excellent  fertilizer  for  chrysanthemums  may 
be  made  by  mixing  five  ounces  of  nitrate  of  soda 
with  five  ounces  of  kainit,  five  ounces  of  a  super- 
phosphate, and  one  ounce  of  sulphate  of  iron.  If 
this  is  desired  in  liquid  form,  dissolve  the  mixture 
in  fifteen  gallons  of  water. 


46  Growing  Flowers 

A  good  soil  for  chrysanthemums  is  composed  of 
three  parts  of  turfy  loam  mixed  with  one  part  of 
well-rotted  stable  manure.  Three  or  four  ounces 
of  basic  slag  or  bone  meal  added  to  this  will  have  a 
beneficial  effect  on  the  flowers. 

Clarkia 

Seed  of  the  clarkia  should  be  sown  out  of  doors 
early  in  the  spring  and  the  plants  should  be  par- 
tially shaded.  The  best  soil  is  a  warm,  light  soil. 

The  clarkia  is  most  beautiful  when  planted  in 
window  boxes  and  hanging  baskets,  and  also  as  a 
border  for  the  flower  bed  or  other  low  massing,  as 
it  not  only  has  a  pretty  foliage  growth  but  it 
blooms  freely  and  has  a  variety  of  flowers. 

Cobcea  Scandens 

The  cobcea  scandens  requires  a  rich,  well  drained 
soil  and  under  favorable  conditions  is  a  rapid 
grower.  A  trellis  should  be  provided  as  soon  as 
the  plant  is  up  for  it  will  soon  begin  to  climb. 

Cobcea  scandens  seed  should  be  planted  where  the 
vines  are  to  grow,  or  else  should  be  planted  in  paper 
cups  and  transplanted  when  the  ground  has  be- 


Growing'.  Flowers  47 

come  sufficiently  warm.  The  plants  will  not  do 
their  best  under  transplanting.  The  vine  is  grown 
as  much  for  the  foliage  as  for  the  flower. 

Rabbit  netting  is  more  satisfactory  than  cord  or 
wire  for  tender  vines  such  as  the  cobcea  scandens. 

Cockscomb 

The  old-fashioned  cockscomb  is  prized  princi- 
pally for  its  decorative  features  in  the  garden. 
Massed  with  shrubbery,  it  gives  a  most  striking 
and  pleasing  effect.  It  is  extremely  easy  to  grow 
and  is  self -propagating.  They  come  in  both  deep 
red  and  a  striking  yellow. 

Cockscomb  can  be  grown  from  seed  sown  in 
slightly  warm  soil  in  April  and  will  be  ready  for 
transplanting  during  the  month  of  May.  If  sown 
where  the  plants  are  to  stand,  the  seed  should  be 
sown  in  May. 

In  transplanting  cockscombs,  see  that  the  soil  into 
which  they  are  transplanted  is  very  rich.  If  they 
are  not  transplanted  until  just  as  the  combs  begin 
to  form,  the  combs  will  be  large  and  handsome. 

In  cutting  cockscombs  for  drying  for  house  decora- 
tion in  the  winter,  cut  them  before  the  seeds  are 


48  Growing  Flowers 

ripe  and  they  will  not  fall  apart.     They  may  be 
dried  in  a  moderately  warm  room  in  the  house. 


Columbine 

The  seed  of  columbine  should  be  sown  in  the  open 
ground  in  the  spring  and  the  seedlings  should  be 
thinned  to  about  twelve  inches  apart.  Seed  sown 
in  the  autumn  will  produce  flowering  plants  the 
following  season.  They  are  very  easy  to  grow 
and  require  little  cultivation.  They  will  thrive 
in  almost  any  soil  but  fertilization  helps 
them. 

The  fact  that  the  columbine  blooms  profusely  for 
a  long  season,  that  it  is  hardy  and  requires  little 
care,  that  it  makes  a  striking  appearance,  that  it 
can  be  grown  in  any  locality,  and  that  it  is  one 
of  the  few  flowers  with  colors  red,  white,  and 
blue,  recommends  it  strongly  as  our  national 
flower. 

Columbine  and  honeysuckle  are  among  the  flowers 
that  strongly  attract  the  humming  bird  and  every 
garden  should  contain  these  two  vines,  if  for 
no  other  reason  than  to  have  the  birds  come 
around. 


Growing  Flowers  49 

Cornflower 

The  coneflower  is  a  perennial  and  is  very  hardy 
but  it  may  be  treated  as  an  annual  with  successful 
result.  It  is  easy  to  cultivate  and  will  thrive  in 
almost  any  soil  and  climate,  though  a  more  hand- 
some growth  will  be  attained  if  it  is  kept  slightly 
moist.  It  perpetuates  itself  through  selfsown 
seed. 

The  coneflower,  or  rudbeckia,  may  be  propagated 
by  cuttings  which  should  be  taken  while  the  plant 
is  dormant.  It  is  very  satisfactory  for  cutting 
and  the  pretty  yellow  shades  add  greatly  to  the 
variety  of  cut  flowers. 

Cornflower 

The  cornflower  has  several  names,  among  them 
being  "ragged  sailor,"  "blue  bottle"  and  "kaiser 
blumen."  They  are  among  the  most  attractive 
and  graceful  of  the  old-fashioned  flowers. 

The  cornflower  grows  well  on  moderately  rich 
garden  soil.  Seed  should  be  sown  in  the  garden 
in  April  or  May  and  the  young  plants  should  be 
thinned  to  a  distance  of  six  inches  between  them. 


50  Growing  Flowers 

Cosmos 

Cosmos  is  a  strong,  hardy  plant  but  if  the  flowers 
are  to  be  at  their  best  it  should  have  a  rich  soil  in 
which  to  grow.  In  favorable  climates  and  with  good 
soil,  the  plants  will  perpetuate  themselves.  The 
plants  should  be  set  a  foot  and  a  half  apart. 

Cosmos  seed  should  be  started  in  the  house  in 
March  or  April.  The  plant  is  a  notable  fall  flower 
and  often  reaches  a  height  of  four  or  five  feet  under 
favorable  conditions.  Therefore,  it  makes  a  pretty 
background  for  small  flowers  and  should  be  in- 
cluded in  every  garden  plan  as  one  of  the  flowers 
to  receive  appreciation  in  the  late  months  when 
flowers  are  scarce. 

Cosmos  is  most  effective  at  a  distance,  and  when 
planted  in  masses,  or  as  long  background  borders 
where  it  can  be  viewed  at  not  too  close  range,  it 
is  one  of  the  most  attractive  of  flowers. 

By  pinching  out  the  terminals  of  cosmos  and  phlox 
they  immediately  make  a  second  blooming  growth 
in  great  numbers  and  beauty.  Do  not  allow  seed 
to  mature  that  is  not  needed  or  the  flowers  will 
be  small  and  poor  in  color. 


Growing  Flowers  51 

Crocus 

Crocuses  require  a  rich,  moist  soil.  The  bulbs 
should  be  planted  in  the  autumn  to  three  times 
their  depth,  and  these  same  bulbs  taken  up  again 
as  soon  as  they  have  stopped  flowering  and  stored 
in  a  dry,  airy  room  until  the  next  fall  when  they 
may  be  again  planted. 

Crocuses  are  easily  flowered  in  the  house  in  the 
winter  and  may  be  planted  either  in  earth,  in  glass 
bowls  of  pebbles  and  water  to  which  has  been 
added  a  little  white  sand,  or  in  vegetable  fiber,  a 
special  preparation  for  house  plants.  When  grown 
in  water,  the  water  should  be  freshened  every  few 
days. 

Crocuses,  narcissi,  tulips,  and  hyacinths  should 
be  kept  in  an  airy  room  without  a  fire  and  where  gas 
is  seldom  burned.  They  should  be  placed  in  the 
sunlight  daily  and  when  the  buds  have  almost 
burst  forth  brought  into  the  sitting  room  or  dining 
room. 

Plant  fall  bulbs  early  that  they  may  get  a  good 
start  in  root  growth  before  the  ground  freezes. 
The  roots  will  then  have  a  good  lot  of  roots  to 
start  work  with  in  the  spring  and  the  flower  will 
appear  much  earlier  than  if  the  bulbs  are  not 


52  Growing  Flowers 

planted  until  late.     The  latter  part  of  September 
is  not  too  early  for  this  work. 

The  best  of  soils  for  bulbs  is  well  rotted  barnyard 
manure.  This  should  be  well  worked  into  the  soil 
before  the  bulbs  are  set  out,  and  the  ground  should 
not  be  disturbed  by  cultivation.  The  soil  should 
be  finely  pulverized  and  the  manure  should  never 
be  put  on  fresh. 

Cyclamen 

The  plants  of  the  pretty  little  cyclamen  should  be 
given  a  rich,  moist  but  well  drained  soil.  They 
require  a  moderate  amount  of  sunlight  but  the  soil 
should  not  be  allowed  to  become  dried  out  by  the 
sun's  rays.  They  are  most  satisfactory  as  a  house 
plant. 

Cyclamen  really  should  be  renewed  every  year  in 
order  to  obtain  the  best  result  in  the  flowers, 
though  it  will  grow  year  after  year  with  little  care. 
All  roots  for  house  plants  should  be  repotted  every  year. 
This  plant  should  not  be  subjected  to  extremes  in 
moisture  and  drought  nor  in  temperature.  A  tem- 
perature of  fifty  degrees  is  quite  warm  enough  and 
very  moderate  moisture  is  all  that  is  necessary. 

Cyclamen  should  be  repotted  in  August. 


Growing  Flowers  53 

Dahlias 

Dahlias  require  rich,  moist  soil.  In  the  Southern 
States  they  may  remain  in  the  ground  during  the 
winter,  but  in  the  colder  climate  the  bulbs  should 
be  taken  up  in  the  fall  and  stored  in  a  dry  place 
until  spring,  when  they  may  be  planted  as  soon  as 
the  ground  is  warm. 

Dahlias  should  be  trained  to  stakes  or  planted  near 
a  fence  or  other  support.  The  canes  are  not  very 
strong  and  a  strong  wind  is  likely  to  blow  them 
over.  In  placing  near  a  support  they  should  not 
be  deprived  of  sunlight  or  they  will  not  thrive. 

Dahlia  bulbs  should  be  looked  over  once  or  twice 
during  the  winter  to  make  sure  that  none  are  shrivel- 
ing from  too  much  heat  and  dryness,  nor  starting 
into  growth  from  too  much  moisture. 

Dahlias  should  be  kept  down  to  three  or  four  stems 
at  the  most.  All  other  shoots  should  be  cut  off  as 
fast  as  they  appear,  otherwise  all  the  strength  will 
go  into  the  plant  instead  of  blossoms.  Big,  bushy 
plants  and  no  flowers  are  not  desirable. 

Dahlias  will  mature  just  as  early  if  planted  out  of 
doors  after  danger  of  frost  is  over  as  if  planted  indoors 


54  Growing  Flowers 

and  set  out  in  the  garden  early  in  the  season.  The 
change  gives  them  a  shock  from  which  it  takes 
them  a  long  time  to  recover. 

Dahlias  are  among  the  most  satisfactory  of  the 
late  summer  flowers  and  are  most  effective  when 
planted  among  shrubbery.  They  have  such  a  wide 
range  of  color  that  it  will  be  possible  to  complete 
almost  any  color  scheme  with  them. 


Daisy 

This  simple,  attractive  little  flower  is  adapted 
both  for  the  garden  and  as  a  house  plant,  and  as  a 
cut  flower  it  has  no  superior.  It  will  grow  in 
almost  any  soil,  but  thrives  best  in  moderately 
rich,  slightly  moist  surroundings. 

The  giant  daisy  is  propagated  by  seed  or  from 
cuttings,  which,  however,  had  better  be  rooted 
before  cutting  from  the  plant  by  bending  them 
down  and  placing  earth  over  them,  and  laying  a 
stone  on  top,  to  keep  the  shoots  in  position.  The 
Shasta  daisy  is  a  member  of  the  chrysanthemum 
family  and  is  propagated  by  a  division  of  the  roots, 
by  seeds  or  by  rooting  cuttings. 


Growing  Flowers  55 

Dianthus 

Dianthus  plants  should  be  planted  in  a  bed  of  well 
mixed  turfy  loam,  leaf -mold,  and  well  decayed  manure. 
Good  drainage  should  be  provided  as  they  are 
more  likely  to  die  from  too  much  moisture  than 
from  not  enough. 

Dianthus  seed  should  be  sown  indoors  in  March 
and  the  young  plants  transplanted  as  soon  as  the 
ground  is  warm.  They  should  stand  from  six 
inches  to  a  foot  apart. 

Young  dianthus  plants  give  the  largest  flowers 
but  old  plants  are  the  first  to  bloom  each  season. 
The  plants  will  remain  green  all  winter  if  lightly 
protected  by  a  mulch  of  straw,  fodder,  or  leaves. 

Dogtooth  Violet 

The  dogtooth  violet  is  really  a  lily  and  should  be 
treated  as  a  lily.  It  grows  well  among  rocks  in 
the  garden  and  thrives  best  if  the  surrounding 
soil  is  composed  principally  of  leaf -mold.  It  does 
not  require  much  sunlight  but  a  great  deal 
of  moisture.  Dogtooth  violets  come  in  such  a 
variety  of  color  that  every  garden  should  have  a 
place  for  some  of  them,  at  least. 


56  Growing  Flowers 

Dragon's  Head 

The  dragon's  head  grows  best  in  a  rich,  light  soil 
and  when  permitted  to  have  plenty  of  sunlight. 
It  is  propagated  by  dividing  the  roots  in  the  spring 
after  the  flowering  season  is  over. 

The  dragon's  head  does  not  make  much  of  a  show- 
ing in  the  garden  but  the  flowers  are  beautiful  when 
picked  in  quantities  and  put  in  a  vase.  It  should  be 
planted  in  places  where  it  can  spread  in  order  to 
have  plants  enough  for  a  generous  supply  of  cut 
flowers. 

Dusty  Miller 

The  dusty  miller  requires  a  light  but  fairly  rich 
soil  and  it  should  be  planted  in  a  sunny  location. 
It  occupies  but  little  space  and  should  be  planted 
in  clusters  to  make  an  advantageous  showing. 
When  grown  in  clusters  it  is  extremely  pretty  and 
three  or  four  plants  about  three  inches  apart  will 
make  a  pretty  little  clump. 

Dusty  miller  is  one  of  the  plants  that  bloom  all 
summer.  It  should  be  sown  every  few  weeks 
from  February  to  August.  The  plants  are  easy  for 
the  amateur  to  raise  from  seed. 


Growing  Flowers  57 

Edelweiss 

The  Swiss  edelweiss  should  be  given  a  sunny  posi- 
tion and  a  sandy  loam  on  a  stony  foundation.  It 
requires  plenty  of  room  and  air.  It  is  a  very  choice 
little  plant  and  well  worth  the  amount  of  care 
needed  to  cultivate  it.  It  may  be  propagated  by 
dividing  the  roots  or  by  sowing  seed. 

Edelweiss  is  best  propagated  by  seed  as  the  divi- 
sion of  the  roots  is  not  always  successful.  A  few 
seed  planted  in  the  cracks  of  rocks  where  there  is 
good  sandy  loam  will  usually  germinate  and  flour- 
ish, though  some  gardeners  find  it  best  to  plant  the 
seed  in  shallow  pans  of  sandy  soil  and  leaf -mold, 
keeping  the  pans  setting  in  a  cool  place  and  the 
soil  moist. 

Elephant's  Ear 

Elephant's  ear  is  unequalled  for  a  striking, 
tropical-looking  effect.  It  is  quite  tender  and  the 
roots  should  be  taken  up  every  fall  and  planted 
out  again  in  the  spring  as  soon  as  the  ground  is  free 
from  frost.  //  requires  a  rich  soil,  and  if  given 
plenty  of  moisture  will  grow  rapidly  in  a  few 
weeks. 


58  Growing  Flowers 

The  elephant's  ear  plants  are  excellent  for  planting 
in  places  'where  shade  is  lacking.  They  will  cast 
a  shadow  for  several  feet  around  and  are  very 
satisfactory  when  shade  is  needed  for  smaller 
plants.  They  should  be  watched  closely  for  bugs 
and  worms  which  will  soon  spoil  the  appearance 
of  the  leaves  when  once  they  attack  the  plant. 
Owing  to  the  color  and  nature  of  the  leaf,  the 
bugs  are  easily  detected  and  may  be  readily  picked 
off. 

Ferns 

Ferns  require  an  exceedingly  moist  soil,  with  a 
great  quantity  of  plant  food  mixed  in  it.  They 
can  hardly  have  too  much  water. 

An  occasional  application  of  well  composted 
stable  manure  will  be  beneficial  to  ferns. 

In  selecting  wood  ferns  for  planting  in  the  garden, 
choose  the  small,  hardy  looking  plants.  The  small 
plants  will  stand  the  best  chance  of  living  and  the 
large  ones  are  very  sure  to  lose  their  foliage  after 
a  few  days,  anyway. 

Whenever  possible,  in  planting  ferns,  give  them 
the  same  sort  of  soil  in  which  they  grew  naturally. 


Growing  Flowers  59 

It  is  hard  on  them  to  have  to  readjust  themselves 
to  different  soil  and  it  will  usually  take  some  time 
for  them  to  get  a  good  growing  start. 

In  cold  climates  ferns  must  be  brought  into  the 
house  during  the  winter,  where  they  are  apt  to  gather 
dust  with  no  refreshing  rain  to  wash  it  off.  The 
pores  become  clogged  and  the  plants  droop  from 
apparently  no  cause,  while  what  they  need  is  air. 
If  they  are  placed  in  the  washtub  and  sponged  off 
with  soft  soapy  water  every  two  or  three  weeks, 
they  will  remain  fresh  and  green. 

The  Boston  fern  is  one  of  the  most  popular  ferns. 
Its  fronds  grow  to  a  length  of  several  feet  when  soil 
conditions  are  right.  It  should  have  a  light, 
spongy  soil  and  only  a  moderate  amount  of  water, 
never  applying  enough  to  make  the  soil  muddy. 

When  a  fern  does  not  thrive,  try  putting  a  couple 
of  raw  oysters  under  the  dirt  very  close  to  the 
roots  of  the  plant.  The  oysters  will  nourish  the 
plant  and  in  most  instances  it  will  grow  like  magic. 

In  preparing  soil  for  ferns,  mix  one  part  of  leaf- 
mold  with  one  part  of  sand  and  two  parts  of 
turfy  loam.  This  should  be  prepared  a  month  or 


60  Growing  Flowers 

six  weeks  ahead  of  planting  time,  and  should  be 
dampened  and  turned  over  once  a  week.  The 
last  week,  add  five  ounces  of  bone  meal  and  an 
ounce  of  soot. 

Among  the  low-growing  ferns  suitable  for  table 
decoration  are  the  following: 

Adder's  Tongue  Bulblet         Hart's  Tongue       Oakfern 
Beech  Cliff  break     Maidenhair  Polypody 

Brittle  Hairy  Lip     Moonwort  Purple  stemmed 

Feverfew 

One  of  the  cleanest-growing  and  most  satisfactory 
of  old-fashioned  posies  is  the  featherfew,  or  feverfew. 
It  is  commonly  listed  in  the  florists*  catalogues  as 
an  annual  but  it  will  live  through  severe  winters 
and  remain  green  from  one  season  to  another. 

Feverfew  is  self-sown  each  year  from  the  seed  of 
the  previous  season's  production,  and  its  blossoming 
season  is  long  as  three  or  four  crops  will  be  pro- 
duced each  season.  It  is  a  very  valuable  plant  in 
a  garden  when  continuous  bloom  is  desired.  // 
transplants  very  readily. 

Forget-me-not 

The  dainty  little  forget-me-not  is  an  excellent  little 
plant  for  use  as  an  edging  or  for  filling  in  spaces 


Growing  Flowers  61 

among  the  shrubbery.  It  can  be  taken  indoors  in 
the  fall  and  kept  as  a  house  plant  all  winter  with 
very  pleasing  results  as  a  table  decoration. 

Forget-me-not  seeds  should  be  sown  in  the  spring 
in  a  warm  sunny  place.  These  plants  love  a  cool, 
moist  soil  with  moderate  fertilization.  They  are 
very  satisfactory  planted  as  a  border  flower. 

Forsythia 

Forsythia  is  an  easy  growing  plant.  A  liberal 
quantity  of  bone  meal  or  other  phosphate  should  be 
applied  to  the  roots  in  the  fall  in  order  to  produce 
large  clusters  of  flowers  the  following  spring.  The 
foliage  is  not  unusually  beautiful  and  the  plants 
are  cultivated  for  the  flowers  alone. 

Every  garden  should  have  a  corner  for  forsythia  or 
golden  bell.  This  is  a  very  early  blooming  plant 
and  its  yellow  flowers  receive  much  appreciation, 
coming,  as  they  do,  before  very  many  flowers  are 
out.  The  plant  requires  a  rich,  loamy  soil  in 
order  to  make  its  best  growth. 

Forsythia  should  be  cut  back  severely,  to  within 
a  few  buds  of  the  main  branches,  as  soon  as  the 
flowers  fade.  This  pruning  throws  the  strength 


62  Growing  Flowers 

of  the  plant  into  the  main  branches,  which  in  turn 
feed  the  new  branches  the  following  spring. 

Forsythia  may  be  successfully  propagated  from 
cuttings.  The  shoots  should  be  buried  in  sandy 
loam,  kept  moderately  moist  and  somewhat  warm, 
and  the  roots  will  soon  appear.  Cuttings  may  be 
made  from  prunings,  though  the  tender  tops  and 
most  of  the  foliage  should  be  removed. 

Four-o'clock 

The  four-o'clock  is  a  pretty  garden  plant  for  the 
Southern  States.  The  seed  may  be  sown  in  a  hotbed 
in  February  and  set  out  in  April.  Owing  to  the 
great  variety  of  colors,  and  the  ease  with  which  it  is 
grown,  it  is  a  much  desired  outdoor  plant. 

The  four-o'clock  is  not  exacting  with  regard  to  soil 
conditions,  though  it  thrives  best  where  there  is 
good  drainage.  Lack  of  fertilization  will  produce 
an  abundance  of  flowers  but  not  much  foliage.  As 
the  plants  are  grown  for  the  flowers,  however, 
which  open  at  about  four  o'clock  in  the  afternoon, 
foliage  is  not  at  all  necessary. 

The  four-o'clock  is  self-perpetuating  and  plants 
will  come  up  year  after  year  when  once  they  have 
been  started.  The  odor  is  very  fragrant. 


Growing  Flowers  63 

Foxglove 

Foxglove  requires  a  deep,  rich  soil.  The  seed 
should  be  sown  fresh  every  year  in  May  in  the 
open  ground,  but  transplanting  will  benefit  the 
plants. 

In  changing  the  plan  of  the  garden,  do  not  move 
foxglove,  gaillardias,  or  sweet  william  after  the  third 
•week  in  September. 

Freesias 

The  best  fertilizer  for  freesias  is  composed  of  loam, 
sand,  and  leaf-mold.  A  little  well-rotted  stable 
manure  may  be  added  but  it  should  first  be  sifted, 
as  the  soil  should  be  fine  and  soft. 

Freesia  bulbs  potted  in  July  will  bloom  soon  after 
Christmas.  The  bulbs  should  be  covered  to  a 
depth  of  an  inch  and  a  half  and  should  be  an  inch 
and  a  half  apart  in  the  pots.  They  should  be  kept 
cool  and  moist  for  six  weeks,  when  they  may  be 
gradually  brought  to  the  light. 

Freesias  will  need  no  more  watering  after  the  stems 
and  leaves  die  down.  They  should  be  placed  in  the 
open  sunshine  so  that  the  bulbs  may  become  thor- 
oughly ripened  before  storing  away  for  the  next 
season's  planting. 


64  Growing  Flowers 

Fuchsias 

Fuchsias  are  not  satisfactory  as  a  winter  house 
plant,  though  sometimes  they  will  flourish.  The 
proper  place  for  them  during  the  cold  months  is 
the  cellar,  where  they  should  be  set  in  their  own 
pots,  and  given  just  enough  water  to  prevent  the 
soil  from  becoming  too  dry.  They  should  be  kept 
in  the  dark  until  March,  and  should  not  be  in  a 
warm  spot. 

Fuchsias  are  very  tender  plants  and  require  careful 
treatment.  They  had  best  be  grown  under  glass 
during  the  early  spring  and  may  be  planted  in  the 
garden  after  the  soil  has  become  thoroughly 
warmed,  where  they  may  remain  until  the  leaves 
fall.  When  taken  indoors  they  should  be  kept 
in  a  dry,  dark  place  until  March  and  should  then 
be  brought  to  the  light  and  given  a  little  water 
occasionally.  They  will  thrive  in  ordinary  garden 
soil.  All  pruning  should  be  done  in  March  before 
the  sap  rises. 

Fuchsias  may  easily  be  grown  from  cuttings. 
The  best  method  of  rooting  the  cuttings  is  to  bend 
the  branches  to  the  ground,  cut  a  notch  in  the 
stem  near  a  joint,  and  bury  the  stem  in  sand,  hold- 
ing it  down  by  means  of  two  little  wooden  pegs. 


Growing  Flowers  65 

Gaillardia 

Gaillardia  may  be  propagated  from  seed  grown 
in  the  open  ground  or  by  sowing  the  seed  in  a  hotbed 
and  transplanting  the  seedlings  to  the  ground  as 
soon  as  danger  of  frost  has  passed.  The  plants 
should  stand  about  twelve  inches  apart. 

Gaillardias  require  a  fertile  but  light  and  well 
drained  soil. 

Where  gaillardias  are  growing  in  the  garden, 
try  making  cuttings  from  them  for  plants  for  winter 
flowering,  or  keeping  the  plants  over  to  set  out  next 
spring.  In  the  hothouse,  cuttings  can  be  made 
from  these  plants  early  in  the  spring,  giving  an 
additional  stock  of  plants  for  bedding  out. 

Gaillardias  have  a  profusion  of  flowers  for  a  very 
long  period  and  are  well  adapted  for  mixed  borders. 
They  keep  fresh  a  long  time  when  cut  if  the  water 
is  changed  every  other  day. 

Gardenias 

Gardenias  are  not  difficult  to  grow,  regardless  of 
the  high  prices  asked  by  the  florists.  They  require 
only  moderately  rich  soil,  an  abundance  of  moisture, 


66  Growing  Flowers 

and  plenty  of  sunlight.  In  the  South  they  stay 
outdoors  year  after  year  and  grow  to  be  small 
trees,  but  in  the  North  they  should  be  potted  in 
large  bucket  pots,  to  give  plenty  of  room  for  the 
roots  to  spread,  and  should  be  brought  indoors 
in  the  fall.  In  planting  out  the  next  season,  plant 
the  bucket  with  the  plant. 

Gardenias  are  really  more  satisfactory  as  garden 
plants  than  as  house  plants  as  the  extremely  fra- 
grant odor  becomes  rather  pungent  when  in  a  close 
room.  The  flower  is  very  delicate  regardless  of  its 
heavy  waxlike  appearance,  and  turns  brown  where 
bruised. 

Gentian 

The  gentian  is  a  more  or  less  fickle  plant.  It 
grows  and  flowers  successfully  at  times  under  cer- 
tain conditions,  while  at  other  times  under  the 
same  conditions  it  not  only  refuses  to  flower  but 
refuses  to  attain  a  good  growth  as  well. 

The  gentian  is  most  likely  to  thrive  in  a  rich,  loamy 
soil,  which  has  some  stones  in  it,  and  which  is  very 
moist.  If  the  plants  are  protected  in  the  winter  by 
a  pane  of  glass,  they  will  be  benefited. 


Growing  Flowers  67 

Geraniums 

Geraniums  require  a  light  soil  in  order  to  produce 
beautiful  flowers.  A  very  rich  soil  will  make  leaves 
but  will  produce  no  flowers.  They  should  be 
given  plenty  of  water  and  kept  slightly  moist  all 
the  time. 

To  start  geranium  plants  for  winter  blooming 
break  off  slips  from  the  old  plants  in  August  and 
put  them  in  the  ground  by  the  side  of  the  old  plant. 
Let  them  remain  there  until  the  weather  begins  to 
grow  cool,  then  pot  them  and  take  them  indoors 
and  place  where  they  will  get  plenty  of  sunlight. 

The  dead  flowers  should  be  removed  from  the 
geranium  plants  immediately  upon  their  beginning 
to  droop.  This  will  encourage  further  blooming 
of  the  plant. 

For  fresh,  vigorous  plants,  slips  should  be  taken 
from  the  old  plants,  but  a  few  plants  of  great 
growth  will  be  much  appreciated,  hence  some  gera- 
niums should  be  kept  in  pots  the  year  round  and  fre- 
quently cultivated  and  fertilized  when  not  in  bloom. 

Geranium  cuttings  can  be  rooted  by  keeping  them 
in  a  glass  of  water,  but  a  little  sand  in  the  bottom 
of  the  glass  will  be  helpful. 


68  Growing  Flowers 

The  average  woman  will  find  that  eight  or  ten 
geraniums  of  various  colors  will  give  her  a  great  deal 
more  pleasure  as  house  plants  than  almost  any  other 
flower.  They  will  bloom  profusely,  give  plenty 
of  color,  will  stand  neglect,  and  will  not  die  if  a 
light  frost  nips  them  or  if  she  should  forget  to 
water  them,  and  they  are  seldom  troubled  by 
insects  of  any  kind. 

The  quickest  and  best  method  of  rooting  slips  of 
geraniums,  nasturtiums,  and  other  plants  is  by 
placing  them  in  a  glass  of  water  in  a  sunny  spot. 
The  roots  will  start  in  a  few  days  and  they  should 
then  be  planted  in  soil. 

A  geranium  bed  may  be  started  at  little  expense  by 
purchasing  in  the  fall  one  large  full-grown  plant 
such  as  is  usually  considered  past  the  prime  of 
usefulness,  and  taking  off  small  slips  to  plant  in 
individual  pots.  The  slips  should  be  made  from 
the  new  growth  and  each  slip  should  have  one  or 
more  joints  from  which  the  roots  will  sprout. 
Caring  for  them  during  the  winter  will  not  be 
difficult  as  they  require  so  little  attention,  and  by 
spring  a  dozen  geraniums  will  be  ready  to  trans- 
plant to  the  window  boxes  and  flower  beds  at  very 
slight  expense. 


Growing  Flowers  69 

Geraniums  for  winter  flowering  should  be  potted 
in  June  and  should  be  set  in  the  pots  in  which  they 
are  to  remain  during  the  blooming  period.  They 
should  be  kept  in  the  open  until  the  days  begin  to 
grow  too  cool  for  them  and  should  be  gradually 
brought  to  a  wanner  temperature  or  they  may 
wither  from  heat. 

Geraniums,  fuchsias,  begonias,  and  roses  slipped  in 
ihefall  to  make  plants  for  bedding  in  the  summer  will 
insure  good  plants  at  little  expense  and  not  a  great 
deal  of  care  during  the  winter  months.  Shallow 
dishes  filled  with  sand  and  water  should  be  used 
for  starting  the  roots.  When  the  roots  are  strong 
and  firm,  earth  should  be  added  gradually  if  in  a 
pot,  or  the  slips  may  be  transferred  to  a  pot  if  they 
are  rooting  in  a  glass. 

Geraniums  will  do  better  if  slips  are  taken  from 
new  shoots.  There  should  be  a  joint,  and  preferably 
two,  on  each  slip  as  the  roots  start  from  the  joints. 


Gladiolus 

Gladiolus  bulbs  should  lie  dormant  in  a  dry  place 
in  the  cellar  all  winter  and  be  planted  in  the  open 
ground  in  the  spring.  Or  they  may  be  planted  in 


70  Growing  Flowers 

cold  frames  in  March  when  they  will  bloom  as 
early  as  May.  Under  ordinary  circumstances, 
they  bloom  in  June  or  July. 

Gladioli  require  a  rich  soil  for  profusion  of  blos- 
soms, though  they  will  flourish  in  almost  any  soil. 

Gladioli  should  be  staked  when  the  plants  have 
reached  a  growth  of  from  twelve  to  eighteen  inches, 
or  the  wind  will  be  likely  to  blow  them  down. 
Even  a  heavy  rainstorm  will  beat  them  down  and 
wash  up  the  roots  which  are  not  deeply  covered. 

When  digging  gladiolus  bulbs,  save  the  small  bulb- 
lets  for  future  planting.  In  time  these  little 
bulbs  will  make  flowering  bulbs. 

For  a  succession  of  gladiolus  flowers,  plant  the 
bulbs  every  two  weeks  until  August  first.  After 
that  time  it  will  be  useless  to  plant  as  the  cold  will 
kill  the  flowers  before  they  mature. 

Three  times  as  many  bulbs  will  come  from  gladioli 
planted  in  June  than  from  those  planted  in  April. 
It  seems  that  Nature,  knowing  that  the  late  plants 
will  not  mature  seed,  provides  more  abundantly 
by  multiplying  the  bulbs. 


Growing  Flowers  71 

To  get  the  best  out  of  gladiolus  flowers,  cut  them 
when  the  first  flowers  open  on  the  stalk  and  place  in 
cold  water.  Change  the  water  every  other  day. 
Every  flower  on  the  stem  will  open  and  the  stem 
will  last  for  ten  days  or  two  weeks. 

Gladioli  planted  among  the  roses  the  latter  part 
of  June  will  flower  in  September  when  the  roses  have 
begun  to  dwindle  away. 

If  gladiolus  bulbs  are  kept  in  a  very  warm  place 
during  the  winter  they  are  likely  to  become  dried 
out  and  there  will  be  little  vitality  left  when  they 
are  set  out  in  the  spring.  The  result  will  be  a  very 
poor  crop  of  flowers  and  the  bulbs  may  not  even 
root. 


Godetia 

The  godetia  requires  a  light,  sandy  soil  and  will 
not  thrive  in  soil  that  has  been  heavily  fertilized. 
It  is  a  delicate  little  plant  and  requires  frequent 
cultivation,  but  its  beauty  well  repays  one  for  the 
attention  which  must  needs  be  given. 

If  godetia  plants  are  set  among  the  china  asters, 
they  will  bloom  early  and  be  out  of  the  way  before 


72  Growing  Flowers 

the  asters  come  to  overshadow  them.  They  should 
be  planted  in  clumps  as  the  delicate  shell  pink  shade 
will  not  show  to  advantage  in  single  plants. 


Gypsophila 

Gypsophila  is  charming  as  a  cut  flower.  Its 
grace  and  lightness  have  given  it  the  name  of 
"Baby's  Breath,"  and  it  will  add  distinction  to 
what  would  otherwise  be  a  very  ordinary  selection 
of  plants. 

Gypsophila  should  be  given  plenty  of  room  for  its 
full  growth  and  development.  It  grows  rapidly  and 
in  three  or  four  years  a  bush  will  grow  to  five  or 
six  feet  across  and  three  or  four  feet  in  height. 
Bare  spaces  surrounding  it  may  be  filled  in  with 
annuals  until  the  gypsophila  has  attained  its 
growth.  It  is  usually  propagated  from  seed,  though 
cuttings  may  be  made. 

Gypsophila  will  grow  under  almost  any  soil 
conditions,  and  while  sunlight  is  beneficial,  it 
will  grow  in  partial  shade.  It  received  its 
name  from  a  Greek  word  which  means  "lover 
of  gypsum  or  chalk,"  and  was  perhaps  first 
found  on  rocks. 


Growing  Flowers  73 

Heliotrope 

The  old-fashioned  little  heliotrope  is  a  delicate 
little  flower  and  should  be  given  a  fairly  rich,  well- 
drained  soil.  It  makes  a  pretty  border  plant,  and 
if  all  dead  flowers  are  clipped  off  it  will  bloom  until 
frost  cuts  it  down. 

The  tall  heliotrope  grows  to  be  three  or  four  feet 
in  height  and  is  most  effective  when  planted  with 
the  shorter  variety  at  its  base.  It  may  be  propa- 
gated by  cuttings  in  the  early  spring  or  in  the  fall 
after  the  flowers  have  ceased,  though  spring  cut- 
tings will  be  much  easier  to  root. 

Hibiscus 

The  hibiscus  thrives  best  in  the  South  and  when 
grown  in  the  North  should  be  planted  in  large 
wooden  tubs  that  they  may  be  taken  "indoors  in  the 
winter.  The  soil  should  be  rich  and  friable  and  the 
plants  should  be  frequently  watered. 

The  hibiscus  is  remarkable  for  its  large,  brilliantly 
colored  flowers  of  great  variety.  The  leaves,  too, 
are  beautiful,  and  the  foliage  would  be  worth  cul- 
tivating if  there  were  no  flowers. 


74  Growing  Flowers 

The  hibiscus  may  be  propagated  from  cuttings, 
or  from  seed,  though  cuttings  are  more  satisfactory. 
Plants  grown  from  seed  will  not  bloom  the  first 
season,  and  often  do  not  bloom  until  the  third 
season.  The  plants  do  not  require  pruning  and 
cuttings  should  be  carefully  taken. 


Hollyhock 

That  old-fashioned  perennial,  the  hollyhock,  has 
never  lost  favor.  The  plants  should  always  be 
grouped  together  or  planted  in  rows,  to  get  full  benefit 
of  their  beauty,  and  never  planted  singly 

Any  ordinary  garden  soil  will  suit  the  holly- 
hock, and  too  much  fertilization  is  not  advisable, 
otherwise  the  plants  will  run  to  foliage  rather  than 
flowers.  Bone  meal  will  be  beneficial  if  applied  to 
the  roots  in  the  fall  and  it  will  have  a  good  effect 
on  the  size  and  color  of  the  blossoms. 

Hollyhock  seed  should  be  sown  in  April  or  May, 
not  later  than  June,  to  flower  the  next  year.  Each 
plant  should  have  a  foot  or  more  of  space  on  each 
side  to  allow  for  full  development.  They  will 
flourish  in  almost  any  soil  and  require  little 
care. 


Growing  Flowers  75 

Seed  sowings  of  hollyhocks  should  be  made  every 
year.  The  flowers  on  young,  vigorous  plants  are 
far  superior  to  those  grown  on  old  stock. 

Seeds  of  perennials,  such  as  hollyhock,  colum- 
bine, larkspur,  foxglove,  and  sweet  william, 
may  be  planted  in  the  open  garden  in  the  fall 
in  the  warmer  sections  of  the  country.  They 
should  be  protected  during  the  winter  by  a 
covering  of  straw. 

Hollyhocks  seem  to  like  to  have  their  foliage  sprayed 
at  evening  during  the  hot,  dry  weather.  The  wind  is 
likely  to  blow  down  plants  in  exposed  positions 
unless  properly  staked.  To  use  them  as  a  back- 
ground for  other  flowers  or  to  plant  them  against 
a  building  will  be  best  for  them. 

Liquid  manure  applied  to  hollyhocks  throughout 
the  season  will  produce  massive  flowers,  though 
they  will  keep  right  on  blooming  with  little  fer- 
tilization. 

In  order  to  have  large  blossoms  of  hollyhocks  late  in 
the  season  cut  out  all  the  flower  buds  for  the  first 
few  weeks.  All  the  strength  will  then  go  into  the 
plant  and  the  later  flowers. 


76  Growing  Flowers 

Hollyhocks  will  not  bloom  the  same  season  the 
seeds  are  planted.  It  takes  a  second  season  to 
mature  the  plants  for  blossoming. 

Honesty 

Honesty,  or  lunaria,  was  a  great  favorite  in  old- 
fashioned  gardens  a  generation  ago,  and  owing  to 
the  ease  with  which  it  can  be  cultivated  should 
have  a  place  in  every  list  of  old-fashioned  flowers. 
It  will  grow  in  sunlight  or  shade,  in  rich  soil  or 
poor,  and  comes  up  each  year  from  self-sown  seed. 

Honesty  pods  are  very  pretty  when  dried  and  taken 
indoors  for  winter  decoration.  There  are  several 
varieties  and  all  are  attractive. 

Hyacinths 

Hyacinths  require  rich,  moist  soil,  and  the  soil 
should  be  moist  all  the  time,  though  not  sodden. 

Hyacinths,  narcissi,  tulips,  and  crocuses  should 
be  planted  in  masses  when  planted  out  of  doors. 
Only  in  this  way  can  the  best  effect  be  obtained, 
though  to  dot  a  few  bulbs  here  and  there  on  the 
lawn  will  be  a  pleasing  little  surprise  in  the  spring- 
time as  they  come  up  one  by  one  before  the  grass 
is  cut. 


Growing  Flowers  77 

Tulips  and  Dutch  hyacinths  are  best  adapted  for 
design  bedding.  Solid  bright  colors  in  contrast 
should  be  planted  together,  such  as  a  bright  red 
and  a  deep  yellow,  dark  red  and  white,  etc. 

Bulbs  should  be  set  out  in  the  fall,  not  later  than 
the  first  of  November,  for  spring  blooming.  They 
should  be  planted  twice  or  three  times  the  depth  of 
the  bulb  in  rich  compost,  and  the  beds  covered  over 
with  leaves  to  keep  them  warm. 

The  grape  hyacinth  is  an  unusually  pretty  flower, 
yet  it  is  not  so  much  grown  as  the  other  varieties. 
When  naturalized  in  colonies  it  remains  undis- 
turbed for  years.  Used  as  an  edging  it  is  most 
charming. 

A  prepared  fiber  may  be  purchased  for  growing 
hyacinths  and  other  bulbous  plants.  It  is  clean 
and  light  and  bulbs  kept  sufficiently  moist,  not 
wet,  thrive  well  in  this  fiber.  It  is  particularly 
advised  for  hanging  baskets,  and  for  city  people 
who  experience  difficulty  in  obtaining  good  soil. 

Hyacinths,  tulips,  daffodils,  crocuses,  and  nar- 
cissi should  have  their  bulbs  taken  from  the  soil 
when  they  have  stopped  blooming  and  stored  away 


78  Growing  Flowers 

in  a  cool  dry  place  until  fall  when  they  may  be 
replanted  with  very  successful  results.  In  plant- 
ing, all  the  small  bulbs  will,  if  broken  from  the 
main  bulb,  start  new  plants,  though  if  a  cluster  of 
blossoms  is  desired  these  small  bulbs  should  re- 
main attached  to  the  parent  bulb. 

A  shallow  bowl  filled  with  pebbles,  sand,  and 
water  will  make  a  beautiful  foundation  for  hyacinths 
and  other  bulbs.  The  roots  will  be  white  and  curl- 
ing and  almost  as  pretty  as  the  blossoms. 

To  force  bulbous  plants,  such  as  hyacinths,  nar- 
cissi, and  daffodils  for  Christmas  blooming,  pot 
them  in  August  and  set  in  a  cool,  damp  place  until 
six  weeks  before  Christmas.  Then  bring  to  the 
warmth  of  the  strong  sunlight  behind  window  glass 
in  a  slightly  heated  room. 

The  best  bulbs  produce  the  best  flowers. 

When  potting  hyacinths,  daffodils,  tulips,  crocuses, 
etc.,  imbed  them  in  the  earth,  water  well,  and  set 
them  away  in  a  cool,  dark  place.  They  should  not 
be  disturbed  again  until  the  roots  have  acquired 
good  growth  and  no  water  should  be  added  as  long 
as  the  soil  remains  moist.  When  the  pots  are  full 


Growing  Flowers  79 

of  roots,  shoots  will  appear  and  the  pot  should  im- 
mediately be  transferred  to  the  light,  gradually 
giving  it  a  little  more  light  all  the  time  until  it  is 
finally  placed  in  the  bright  sunshine.  Eight  weeks 
is  usually  the  amount  of  time  required  to  produce 
flowers  for  Christmas  blooming,  but  to  make 
sure  of  having  blossoms  at  this  time,  a  succes- 
sion of  bulbs  should  be  planted,  say  every  four 
days. 

To  produce  flowering  bulbs  very  early  in  the  spring 
cover  with  a  mulch  of  leaves  and  over  the  leaves 
sprinkle  a  light  covering  of  manure,  just  enough 
to  hold  the  leaves  in  place,  and  lightly  cover  them. 
This  will  keep  the  ground  warm  and  the  bulbs 
will  become  warm  and  will  start  to  sprout  be- 
fore the  sun  has  warmed  the  surrounding  sur- 
face of  the  earth,  and  when  all  danger  of  frost 
is  past  the  bulbs  will  grow  rapidly  and  flower 
soon. 

October  is  the  best  time  for  planting  narcissi, 
hyacinths,  and  tulips.  They  may  be  planted  any 
time  before  the  ground  freezes  but  if  planted  in 
October  they  have  ample  time  in  which  to  estab- 
lish a  good  root  system,  which  is  the  secret  of  get- 
ting fine  flowers. 


8o  Growing  Flowers 

The  best  soil  for  bulbs,  hyacinths,  narcissi,  and 
tulips  is  that  which  was  well  manured  the  previous 
spring  for  summer  flowers.  Any  manure  added  in 
the  fall  should  be  well  rotted  and  it  should  be 
spaded  in  thoroughly  and  deep. 

To  mulch  the  daffodils,  tulips,  hyacinths,  narcissi, 
and  other  bulbs  well  with  manure  before  the  ground 
freezes  and  while  the  bulbs  are  perfectly  hardy  will 
give  them  protection  and  prevent  the  ground  heav- 
ing. If  the  ground  heaves  the  bulbs  will  not  become 
well  rooted  and  the  size  and  quality  of  the  flowers 
will  be  poor. 

'An  ideal  soil  for  use  in  growing  bulbs  indoors  is 
made  of  one  part  sand  to  three  parts  rich  soil. 
The  pots  should  be  well  drained  by  placing  small 
stones  in  the  bottom. 


Hydrangeas 

Hydrangeas  are  beautiful  either  as  a  hedge  or  as 
individual  plants.  They  will  thrive  in  almost  any 
soil,  but  should  have  cultivation  once  or  twice  a 
season  and  the  application  of  a  little  liquid  man- 
ure at  each  cultivation. 


Growing  Flowers  81 

White  hydrangeas  may  be  colored  blue  by  digging 
a  hole  near  the  roots  and  pouring  into  it  a  little 
indigo  blue. 

Hydrangeas  should  be  pruned  immediately  after 
they  cease  blooming.  In  the  South  during  the  win- 
ter the  tops  should  be  protected  by  placing  over 
the  bushes  a  straw  or  brush  covering.  The  flower 
buds  form  in  the  fall  and  the  cover  will  keep  them 
from  being  killed  by  the  cold  of  the  winter.  In 
the  severe  climates,  the  plants  should  be  taken  up 
and  carried  to  the  cellar,  or  placed  in  the  green- 
house. 

Cuttings  should  be  taken  from  hydrangeas  in 
August  and  should  be  chosen  from  growth  which 
has  not  flowered.  The  cuttings  should  be  buried 
about  two  thirds  the  length  in  sandy  soil,  and  each 
cutting  should  have  at  least  one  good,  firm  joint. 

Iris 

The  Japanese  iris  requires  a  rich  soil  and  plenty 
of  moisture.  It  should  be  taken  up  every  two  years 
and  the  roots  divided  and  more  fertilizer  added. 
To  start  plants  from  seed  will  take  a  long  time  as 
this  is  one  of  the  plants  which  do  not  blossom  the 
first  season  when  grown  from  seed. 


82  Growing  Flowers 

Manure  should  never  be  applied  direct  to  the  roots 
of  the  iris.  It  should  be  applied  in  liquid  form  or 
worked  into  the  soil  at  a  short  distance  form  the 
roots. 

Jack-in-the-Pulpit 

The  wild  flower,  jack-in-the-pulpit  is  a  much 
appreciated  plant  when  cultivated.  It  is  one  of  the 
marshy  plants  but  will  thrive  either  in  low,  marshy 
land  or  in  the  water.  The  flowers  of  this  plant 
catch  and  hold  securely  bugs  and  other  insects  and 
thus  aid  in  destroying  plant  enemies. 


Jessamine 

Jessamine  requires  a  loamy  soil  to  which  a  little 
leaf-mold  has  been  addedt  and  a  little  sand  mixed 
with  this  heavier  soil  will  help  in  insuring  drainage. 

Much  of  the  success  in  growing  jessamine  depends 
upon  the  pruning.  It  should  always  be  pruned  in 
the  springtime  after  the  flowers  are  gone.  It  will 
then  have  the  whole  season  in  which  to  mature 
new  shoots  for  the  next  winter's  flowers.  If  it  is 
pruned  in  the  fall,  the  shoots  which  would  have 
borne  flowers  will  be  destroyed. 


Growing  Flowers  83 

Lantana 

The  name  commonly  applied  to  lantana  is  Indian 
nettle.  This  is  a  tender  shrub  and  it  can  be  trained 
in  the  form  of  a  tree  or  left  to  grow  as  a  bush.  A 
loamy  soil,  mixed  with  leaf-mold  and  compost  and 
a  little  sand,  is  the  best  soil  for  this  plant. 

Cuttings  from  lantana  should  be  made  in  the 
spring  or  fall  and  should  be  inserted  in  sandy  soil, 
kept  fairly  moist  and  warm. 

To  train  a  lantana  plant  to  tree  form,  pinch  off  the 
lower  branches  as  fast  as  they  appear,  leaving  the 
strength  of  the  plant  food  to  feed  the  upper 
branches.  //  a  bush  is  desired,  the  central  buds, 
or  top,  should  be  pinched  off  that  many  side  shoots 
may  appear.  The  earlier  this  is  done,  the  prettier 
and  more  regular  the  bush  will  be. 

Larkspur 

Larkspur  seed  may  be  sown  either  in  the  fall  or 
spring,  in  the  fall,  preferably,  so  that  germination 
may  take  place  early  in  the  spring.  The  plants 
should  be  thinned  to  about  a  foot  apart.  They 
thrive  best  in  a  cool,  moist  soil. 

The  dwarf  larkspur  should  be  used  for  borders, 


84  Growing  Flowers 

while  the  tall  variety  may  be  used  among  the 
shrubbery  as  a  background  for  other  low  flowers, 
or  be  cultivated  for  cutting. 

The  withered  stems  of  larkspur  should  be  cut 
away  as  soon  as  they  appear,  in  order  to  keep  the 
plants  flowering  until  late  in  the  season. 

Larkspur,  hollyhocks,  iris,  and  perennial  poppies 
should  be  covered  in  the  fall  with  a  good  coating  of 
manure  or  other  litter  to  a  depth  of  three  or  four 
inches.  This  will  hold  the  frost  in  the  ground 
and  keep  the  plant  from  alternately  freezing  and 
thawing;  in  cold  climates  the  manure  will  protect 
the  plant  from  freezing  to  a  depth  that  will  cut 
off  its  water  supply. 

If  lilac  blossoms  are  waxed  just  after  the  blos- 
soms have  opened,  they  may  be  kept  a  long  time 
in  the  natural  color.  The  flowers  should  be  cut 
in  the  early  morning  and  not  be  allowed  to  wilt 
before  being  waxed. 


Lavender 

Every  home  should  have  its  lavender  bush,  either 
in  the  garden  or  in  a  pot.     The  foliage  is  orna- 


Growing  Flowers  85 

mental  and  the  flowers  are  very  fragrant  and 
nothing  gives  a  sweeter,  more  delicious  odor  to 
clothing  when  packed  away  with  it. 

Lavender  bushes  thrive  best  in  light,  sandy  soil 
and  a  great  deal  of  sunlight,  though  they  are 
not  particular  with  regard  to  soil.  They  may  be 
grown  from  seed  or  from  cuttings,  which  should  be 
taken  in  October  and  should  comprise  a  piece  of 
new  growth  attached  to  an  older  stem. 

Lavender  leaves  should  be  gathered  on  a  dry,  sun- 
shiny day  in  midsummer,  preferably  as  late  as 
August,  and  should  be  hung  in  a  cool  dry  place  for 
several  weeks  before  they  are  ready  for  use. 

Lilacs 

Lilacs  and  other  shrubs  which  make  their  buds 
one  season  for  the  following  season's  blossoming 
should  be  pruned  within  a  month  after  they  stop 
blooming  to  promote  fine  blossoms.  Lilacs  should 
not  be  pruned  very  frequently. 

The  common  lilac  succeeds  well  in  trying  locations. 
It  may  be  used  as  a  hedge  with  excellent  results, 
or  as  specimen  plants  about  the  lawn.  It  grows 
into  a  graceful  shrub  or  high  hedge  with  very  little 
care. 


86  Growing  Flowers 

A  bunch  of  lilacs  has  its  place  in  every  garden, 
however  small.  They  require  little  cultivation, 
an  application  of  manure  once  a  year  being 
sufficient  to  keep  them  going,  and  they  will 
thrive  somewhat  even  without  the  annual  applica- 
tion. They  are  among  the  early  flowers  and  much 
appreciated. 

Lilacs  should  not  be  pruned  directly  after  blooming, 
but  should  be  left  alone  until  the  spring  of  the 
following  year.  They  do  not  need  to  be  covered 
during  the  winter  even  in  cold  climates. 

A  hedge  of  lilac  is  most  beautiful  even  after  the 
flowers  have  ceased.  It  should  be  kept  pruned  as 
closely  as  privet,  and  small  flowers  or  shrubs  should 
be  planted  near  to  hide  the  bare  lower  branches 

Lilies 

LilieS'Of-the-valley  require  a  rich,  leafy  mold, 
plenty  of  moisture,  and  little  or  no  sunlight.  The 
bulbs  should  be  planted  in  the  fall  and  covered  over 
well  with  soil  and  leaves. 

A  cluster  of  bulbs  of  the  lily-of-the-valley  should 
always  be  separated  and  set  three  or  four  inches 
apart.  They  will  multiply  rapidly  in  one  season, 
hence  should  be  given  plenty  of  root  room. 


Growing  Flowers  87 

The  lily-of-the-valley  makes  an  excellent  house 
plant  for  the  winter  months.  By  taking  it  in  at 
intervals  during  the  winter  a  succession  of  flowering 
plants  may  be  kept  up.  The  flowers  will  last 
several  weeks. 

Where  there  is  a  plot  too  shady  to  grow  the  aver- 
age flower  set  out  clumps  of  the  lily-of-the-valley 
and  between  them  plant  slips  of  running  myrtle. 
These  will  grow  rapidly  and  soon  cover  the  ground, 
making  a  most  beautiful  bed.  Even  after  the  lily 
has  stopped  flowering  the  ground  will  have  an 
attractive  covering. 

Tiger  lilies  are  easy  to  grow,  requiring  practically 
no  cultivation  and  little  fertilization.  When  once 
started,  they  will  come  up  every  year.  The  bulbs 
may  be  planted  either  in  the  spring  or  fall  with 
equally  good  result.  A  small  piece  of  a  bulb  with 
a  bit  of  root  attached  will  grow  and  flourish. 

Tiger  lilies  attract  both  the  birds  and  the  butterflies, 
and  planted  as  a  background  for  other  foliage  they 
are  at  their  best.  The  stem  can  be  cut  off  with 
the  buds  but  half  grown  and  they  will  mature  and 
come  into  flower  in  the  vase  and  will  last  from 
ten  days  to  two  weeks  if  the  water  is  changed 
frequently. 


88  Growing  Flowers 

Madonna  lily  bulbs  should  be  planted  early  in 
September,  though  most  bulbs  should  not  be 
planted  until  a  month  or  six  weeks  later. 

Madonna  lily  bulbs  are  less  likely  to  rot  in  heavy 
soils  if  surrounded  with  a  little  sand  and  laid  on 
their  side. 

Calla  lilies  require  plenty  of  water  when  flowering 
and  should  also  be  given  a  good  supply  of  liquid 
manure  once  or  twice  during  the  season,  other 
than  the  first  fertilization. 

Roses  and  lilies  should  not  be  planted  so  close 
that  the  branches  will  come  in  immediate  contact, 
or  the  rose  thorns  will  lacerate  the  branches  of  the 
lilies. 

October  is  the  time  for  planting  irises  or  flag  lilies. 
They  will  flourish  in  the  shade  or  sunshine,  in  rich 
soil  or  poor,  and  will  even  grow  on  rocks  with  the 
scantiest  of  soil. 

Irises  will  not  bloom  the  first  season  after  plant- 
ing, hence  they  should  be  placed  in  a  permanent 
location. 

Lobelias 

For  borders,  for  baskets,  and  for  pots  there  is  noth- 
ing prettier  than  the  lobelia.  The  seeds  germinate 


Growing  Flowers  89 

quickly  and  may  be  sown  out  of  doors  in  the  early 
spring  where  the  plants  are  to  grow.  If  sown  in- 
doors, they  should  be  sown  in  dirt  bands  or  paper 
cups  and  the  cup  or  band  transplanted  with  the 
seedlings.  The  plants  should  not  be  set  per- 
manently nearer  than  eight  inches  apart. 

The  lobelia  requires  a  rich,  somewhat  moist  soil, 
and  liquid  manure  applied  to  the  surface  and 
worked  in  while  the  plants  are  in  bloom  will  greatly 
improve  the  size  and  coloring  of  the  flowers. 


Love-Lies-Bleeding 

Love-lies-bleeding,  or  amarantus,  seed  may  be 
planted  out  of  doors  where  the  plants  are  to  grow, 
but  as  the  plant  is  successfully  transplanted,  the 
seed  may  be  planted  in  the  house  early  in  February. 
Outdoor  planting  should  take  place  in  March  or 
April,  according  to  the  severity  of  the  weather,  as 
the  plant  requires  a  warm,  moist  atmosphere. 

Love-lies-bleeding  is  cultivated  for  its  foliage,  which 
is  unusually  beautiful  if  the  plants  are  properly 
cared  for.  The  dried  blood  of  cattle  or  sulphate 
of  ammonia  applied  to  the  roots  will  create  rapid 
growth  and  beautiful  leaves. 


90  Growing  Flowers 

Lupin 

The  lupin  is  a  hardy  annual  and  requires  a  rather 
rich  soil  and  plenty  of  moisture.  It  will  thrive  best 
in  a  somewhat  shady  location  though  a  moderate 
amount  of  sunshine  will  not  be  harmful.  When 
it  is  once  established  in  a  garden,  it  will  perpetuate 
itself  for  years. 

The  lupin  can  be  propagated  from  seed  or  from 
cuttings.  Seed  should  be  sown  where  the  plants 
are  to  grow  as  it  does  not  stand  transplanting  well. 
When  rooting  cuttings  they  may  be  taken  from  the 
plant  and  inserted  in  moist  sand,  or  the  branch 
may  be  bent  to  the  ground,  a  notch  cut  in  it  near 
a  joint,  and  left  there  to  root.  Either  method  will 
prove  satisfactory. 

Magnolias 

Magnolias  require  a  rich  loam  and  plenty  of  mois- 
ture. Also  plenty  of  sunlight  if  they  are  to  bloom 
profusely.  There  are  many  varieties,  but  the  most 
beautiful  of  all  are  the  huge  trees  which  grow  in 
the  swamps  of  the  far  South  and  which  have  creamy 
white  blossoms  with  petals  eight  and  ten  inches  in 
length,  and  two  and  three  inches  in  width.  A  tree 


Growing  Flowers  91 

planted  in  a  naturally  moist  part  of  the  garden 
will  thrive  with  little  attention. 

Magnolias  bloom  in  the  spring  and  early  summer 
and  give  excellent  results  when  planted  among 
other  flowering  plants  which  do  not  blossom  until 
later  in  the  season.  In  watering,  the  water  had 
best  be  applied  by  means  of  a  pipe  driven  into  the 
ground  near  the  roots  and  the  water  poured  down 
it.  In  this  way  the  roots  will  receive  the  moisture 
and  feed  it  to  the  rest  of  the  plant. 

Maltese  Cross 

The  maltese  cross  requires  plenty  of  sunlight  and  a 
•well  drained,  moderately  rich  soil,  though  it  will  grow 
in  almost  any  soil.  Planted  in  groups,  this  plant 
is  most  effective  and  the  plants  should  be  set  close 
together. 

The  maltese  cross  is  propagated  either  by  seed  or 
by  dividing  the  roots  of  fully  matured  plants. 
The  division  should  be  made  in  the  spring. 

Marguerite 

Marguerites  will  grow  in  any  soil  and  when  once 
started  they  will  come  up  every  year  from  self- 


92  Growing  Flowers 

sown  seed.     Seeds  sown  in  September  make  good 
plants  for  the  next  season. 

Marguerites  should  be  staked  when  they  have  grown 
to  be  ten  or  twelve  inches  in  height  to  prevent  the 
wind  blowing  them  over  or  the  rain  beating  them 
down,  but  other  than  staking,  they  will  require 
little  care.  They  will  live  through  the  winter 
without  covering  in  the  South  but  should  have  a 
light  covering  applied  in  severe  climates. 

Marguerites  are  most  effective  when  bushy,  and  in 
order  to  attain  this  bushy  appearance,  the  center 
shoot  should  be  pinched  out  as  soon  as  it  appears. 

In  taking  cuttings  from  marguerite  plants  for 
growing  other  plants,  neither  the  very  hardy  nor 
the  very  weak  shoots  should  be  selected,  but  cut- 
tings of  medium  vigor.  All  flowers  and  buds  and 
all  but  two  or  three  leaves  of  the  cutting  should  be 
pinched  off  before  planting. 


Marigolds 

There  are  two  distinct  types  of  the  marigold  and 
each  type  has  a  great  number  of  varieties.  The 
French  marigold  is  compact  and  regular  and  the 


Growing  Flowers  93 

African  marigold  has  a  spreading  habit.  The 
former  is  best  suited  for  bedding  or  for  borders  and 
the  latter  for  herbaceous  or  shrubbery  borders. 

Marigolds  will  be  benefited  by  transplanting. 
If  the  seed  is  sown  in  a  hotbed  or  cold  frame  very 
early  in  the  spring  and  the  young  plants  trans- 
planted first  to  pots  which  confine  the  roots  of  the 
plant  and  check  it,  and  after  a  couple  of  inches 
growth,  again  transplanted,  the  increased  food 
supply  will  promote  a  splendid  growth.  The  soil 
should  be  rich  and  the  plants  kept  fairly  moist. 


Marjoram 

Sweet  marjoram  belongs  to  the  origanum  family. 
It  is  a  very  pleasing  little  plant  which  grows  about 
ten  inches  in  height  and  which  will  thrive  in  a  rock 
garden.  The  soil  should  be  light  and  sandy. 

The  leaves  of  sweet  marjoram  should  be  picked  in 
the  heat  of  summer  and  kept  in  a  cool,  dry  place  for 
drying  out  before  using.  If  taken  from  the  stem 
they  will  dry  more  readily.  When  cuttings  are 
made  they  should  be  taken  at  the  season  when  the 
plants  are  not  growing  and  should  be  put  into 
sandy,  damp  soil  for  rooting. 


94  Growing  Flowers 

Mayflower 

The  mayflower  grows  wild  in  the  Southern 
States.  It  requires  light  soil  mixed  with  leaf -mold, 
very  little  sunlight,  and  plenty  of  moisture.  It  is 
very  successfully  grown  in  the  rock  garden  and 
requires  practically  no  care  after  once  having  a 
good  start. 

Mignonette 

Every  garden  should  have  mignonette  in  plentiful 
supply.  The  seed  can  be  sown  at  any  time  and  if 
successive  plantings  are  made  every  three  weeks, 
it  will  last  until  late  autumn  in  the  out  of  doors. 
The  last  sowing  should  be  made  the  latter  part  of 
August. 

A  pot  of  mignonette  for  the  dining  table  will  be 
much  appreciated  in  the  dead  of  winter.  Seed 
should  be  sown  in  July. 

The  mignonette  requires  rich,  friable  soil,  plenty 
of  moisture,  and  frequent  cultivation  to  conserve  the 
moisture.  The  ground  should  be  well  drained 
for  if  it  becomes  sodden  the  stems  of  the  plant 
may  rot. 


Growing  Flowers  95 

Mint 

Large  sprigs  of  mint  may  be  placed  in  ajar  of  water 
where  they  will  not  only  remain  fresh  but  will 
actually  grow.  Roots  will  sprout  and  practically 
no  attention  need  be  paid  to  the  plant  except  to  add 
water  and  to  place  it  in  the  sun  occasionally. 

When  mint  is  once  started  in  the  garden  it  will 
perpetuate  itself  yearly,  and  should,  therefore,  be 
planted  in  a  spot  which  will  not  be  needed  for  other 
vegetation.  To  give  fragrance  to  the  air  in  the 
garden,  there  is  nothing  more  pleasing,  and  the 
leaves  make  extremely  pretty  foliage  when  used  as 
low-growing  shrubbery. 

Mistflower 

The  mistflower  requires  a  rather  rich  soil  if  it  is 
to  thrive.  Its  roots  will  multiply  rapidly  and  the 
plant  has  a  long  life.  It  may  be  propagated  by 
the  suckers  which  shoot  up  from  the  lower  stem, 
these  being  inserted  in  wet  sand  for  rooting,  or 
cuttings  may  be  taken  from  the  upper  branches. 

Do  not  give  up  the  mistflower  for  dead  because 
it  shows  no  sign  of  life  until  late  in  the  spring. 


96  Growing  Flowers 

It  lies  dormant  a  long  time  but  it  will  appear  even- 
tually. A  permanent  stake  should  be  driven  in  the 
ground  near  the  roots  when  it  is  planted  in  a  large 
garden. 


Mistletoe 

The  mistletoe  is  of  parasitic  growth  but  it  is  much 
desired  for  decorative  purposes  at  Christmas  time. 
It  grows  slowly  and  has  a  bad  effect  on  the  tree  on 
which  it  feeds,  hence  it  should  be  kept  from  choice 
trees. 

A  little  moss  tied  over  the  cracks  in  which  mistletoe 
seeds  are  placed  will  prevent  the  birds  eating  the 
seeds.  Birds  find  the  seeds  very  quickly  and 
their  disappearance  may  not  be  noticed  for  some 
time,  if  at  all. 

The  male  and  female  plants  of  the  mistletoe 
grow  on  different  plants,  and  fruits,  or  berries,  are 
not  borne  on  the  male  plant.  To  establish  the 
mistletoe  on  a  tree,  take  the  fruit  in  February 
or  March  and  rub  the  seeds  lightly  into  the 
crevices  in  the  bark.  It  is  usually  propagated 
by  birds  carrying  the  seed  from  one  tree  to 
another. 


Growing  Flowers  97 

Mock  Orange 

The  mock  orange  is  a  beautiful  ornamental  shrub 
with  very  fragrant  flowers.  It  thrives  best  in  a  rich, 
loamy  soil  which  is  kept  rather  moist  at  all  times. 

When  the  flowers  of  the  mock  orange  jade,  the 
branches  on  which  the  flowers  appeared  should  be 
cut  back  to  the  point  from  which  young  shoots  are 
starting.  Cuttings  may  be  made  from  these  prun- 
ings  and  they  should  be  inserted  in  sandy  soil  and 
kept  in  a  warm  spot. 

Monkshood 

The  monkshood  thrives  in  ordinary  garden  soil  and 
in  either  a  sunny  or  a  shady  location.  It  is  an  ex- 
cellent flower  for  planting  on  the  north  side  of 
a  house,  and  requires  little  care.  Indeed,  when  the 
plants  are  thriving,  and  the  flowers  are  in  good 
form,  they  should  be  left  undisturbed  for  several 
years  at  a  time. 

Monkshood  will  thrive  for  five  or  six  years  without 
replanting,  as  the  seeds  fall  to  the  earth  and  are 
covered  by  wind-blown  dirt.  It  is  best,  in  order 
to  secure  the  best  growth,  to  replant  every  two 
or  three  years,  and  this  may  be  done  either  by 


98  Growing  Flowers 

planting  new  seed  and  carefully  tending  the  seed- 
lings or  by  dividing  the  roots  of  older  plants. 
After  five  or  six  years,  the  old  roots  should  no 
longer  be  used,  but  new  plants  should  be  started. 

Black  blight  on  monkshood  can  be  gotten  rid  of 
by  spraying  thoroughly  and  frequently  with  Bor- 
deaux mixture.  The  leaves  and  buds  should  be 
sprayed  when  the  stalks  begin  to  turn  yellow 
around  the  blooming  period. 

Moonflowers 

Do  not  fail  to  plant  moonflowers  to  have  a  show- 
ing of  beautiful  flowers  in  the  late  afternoon  and 
at  night.  These  vines  are  very  easily  grown  from 
seed,  which  should  be  soaked  for  twenty-four  hours 
in  lukewarm  water  before  sowing. 

The  moonflower  vines  should  be  given  a  rich  moist 
soil,  and  the  soil  should  be  well  enriched  before  the 
seed  is  planted.  Little  or  no  cultivation  should 
be  given  as  the  roots  are  very  near  the  surface  and 
are  likely  to  suffer  from  disturbance. 

Nasturtium 

No  other  annual  will  produce  such  a  profusion  of 
flowers  for  so  long  a  time  as  the  nasturtium.  It  can 


Growing  Flowers  99 

be  grown  as  a  vine  or  as  a  short  bush  flower  with 
equal  success.  It  never  flags  through  the  hottest 
weather  and  has  a  wide  range  of  colors. 

Nasturtiums  flower  best  on  thin  soil,  but  if  a 
wealth  of  leaves  is  desired,  the  soil  must  be  en- 
riched. The  plants  should  not  be  kept  very  moist 
or  they  will  rot  off,  especially  if  standing  too  close. 

Nasturtiums  may  be  started  in  the  house  in  paper 
cups  or  dirt  bands  and  transplanted  to  the  out  of 
doors  as  soon  as  danger  of  frost  is  over.  When 
planted  in  the  open  the  seed  should  be  sown  an 
inch  deep  and  the  seedlings  thinned  to  ten  inches 
apart. 

Nasturtiums  make  beautiful  winter  pot  plants, 
and  the  trailing  nasturtiums  may  be  planted  in 
hanging  baskets  with  great  success. 

Nasturtium  flowers  appear  within  two  months 
from  the  time  of  planting  the  seed.  A  bed  of  one 
hundred  square  feet  will  produce  about  a  thousand 
blossoms  per  day. 

Try  planting  dwarf  nasturtiums  about  three  inches 
from  sweet  peas  along  both  sides  of  the  rows.  The 


ioo  Growing  Flowers 

nasturtiums  shade  the  ground  and  the  sweet  peas 
seem  to  do  better  than  when  grown  alone.  As 
nasturtiums  require  little  nourishment,  they  will 
not  be  checked  by  the  drain  made  on  the  soil  by 
the  roots  of  the  sweet  peas. 

Grow  nasturtium  seeds  for  sprinkling  among 
pickles  when  putting  them  up  for  the  winter.  The 
leaves  of  the  nasturtium  among  the  pickles  will 
give  them  a  nice  green  color  and  a  very  pleasant 
flavor. 


Nemophila 

Among  the  flowers  which  have  a  long  blossoming 
season  is  the  nemophila.  All  species  may  be  pro- 
pagated from  seed,  though  plants  will  form  from 
cuttings.  Seed  should  be  sown  in  the  garden  in 
April  where  the  plants  are  to  stand,  and  for  early 
blooming  planted  again  in  August  and  transplanted 
late  in  the  autumn  into  pots. 

The  nemophila  loves  a  rich,  moist  loam  with  some 
shade.  The  strong  sunlight  will  wither  and  parch 
the  leaves  and  kill  the  tender  young  buds  of  flowers. 
As  a  cut  flower  for  small  vases,  the  nemophila  is 
most  satisfactory. 


Growing  Flowers  101 

Nicotiana 

The  nicotiana  is  a  hardy  annual  and  will  grow  in 
fairly  rich  soil.  It  requires  shade  as  the  flower 
petals  will  close  when  the  bright  sun  shines  on 
them.  It  perpetuates  itself  from  seed,  and  it  also 
transplants  very  readily. 

When  the  nicotiana  plants  have  acquired  a  good 
growth,  the  lower  leaves  should  be  picked  off  to  prevent 
the  plant  from  crowding  other  plants.  The  plants 
should  be  set  not  nearer  than  twelve  inches. 

Oleander 

When  the  oleander  has  grown  large  and  unwieldy 
and  the  growth  is  rough  and  homely,  cut  away  all  the 
old  branches,  leaving  nothing  but  stubs  appearing 
above  the  ground.  In  a  short  while  new  branches 
will  appear  which  will  produce  much  finer  flowers 
than  the  old  branches  would  produce. 

The  oleander  does  not  require  an  extremely  rich 
soil,  though  a  little  stable  manure  applied  to  the 
roots  in  the  fall  will  strengthen  and  nourish  the 
plant.  Basic  slag  or  bone  meal  worked  into  the  soil 
near  the  roots  will  give  excellent  color  and  growth 
to  the  flowers. 


IO2  Growing  Flowers 

Orchids 

Orchids  are  beautiful  flowers,  but  difficult  to 
grow.  They  require  a  soil  of  peat  and  loam  and 
should  be  kept  in  a  cool,  moist  spot.  They  are  very 
delicate.  They  do  not  like  to  be  disturbed  and 
should  be  planted  very  early  in  the  fall  and  left 
alone.  A  little  sand  mixed  with  the  soil  will  aid 
in  securing  good  drainage. 

Palms 

Palms  require  a  loamy  soil,  well  drained,  and 
enough  water  should  be  given  to  keep  the  soil 
always  moist — not  moist  at  times  and  dry  at 
others.  Palms  do  not  require  sunshine. 

A  little  sweet  milk  added  to  the  water  in  which 
palm  leaves  are  washed  will  give  a  beautiful  gloss 
to  the  foliage. 

A  piece  of  raw  beef  chopped  fine  and  worked  into 
the  soil  around  palms,  ferns,  and  rubber  plants  will 
give  nourishment  to  the  plants  and  there  will  be  a 
marked  increase  in  their  size  before  very  long. 

A  tablespoonful  of  castor  oil  poured  on  the  ground 
around  the  roots  of  palms  and  ferns,  once  a  month, 
will  give  them  a  rapid  growth,  and  keep  them  look- 


Growing  Flowers  103 

ing  fresh  and  green.  If  it  is  worked  into  the  soil, 
it  should  be  worked  into  only  the  first  inch  or  so. 
The  oil  will  help  to  conserve  moisture  and  also 
gives  the  plant  quite  a  bit  of  nourishment. 

Palms  and  other  foliage  plants  can  be  kept  free 
from  scale  by  washing  the  leaves  with  a  strong 
yellow  soap  solution  applied  by  means  of  cotton 
batting.  The  leaves  should  be  well  rinsed  also. 
This  will  not  only  keep  off  scale  but  will  keep  the 
leaves  free  from  dust  and  give  them  a  chance  to 
breathe  fresh  air,  which  they  need. 


Pansies 

Pansies  will  thrive  and  flower  in  almost  any  soil, 
but  a  moderate  amount  of  fertilizer  will  tend  to 
increase  the  size  of  the  flowers.  The  roots  grow 
near  the  surface  and  should  not  be  molested,  hence 
liquid  fertilizer  will  be  excellent  for  applying  if 
the  plants  must  be  enriched  after  growth  has 
started.  Phosphate  fertilizer  should  be  contained 
in  the  soil  for  the  benefit  of  the  blossoms. 

If  all  the  old  branches  are  cut  away  from  the  pansy 
plants  in  midsummer,  new  branches  will  grow  and 
produce  fine  large  flowers  for  the  fall.  Fertilizer 


IO4  Growing  Flowers 

should  be  applied  at  the  same  time  to  give  the 
plants  something  to  feed  on  for  the  new  growth. 

Pansies  can  be  made  to  flower  until  Thanksgiving 
if  given  a  southern  location  and  protected  from 
the  east  winds.  A  light  covering  of  leaves  may  be 
applied,  not  too  heavy  or  the  sun's  rays  will  not 
penetrate,  or  where  the  bed  is  small  enough,  a 
board  may  be  placed  over  the  plants  slanting  it  by 
means  of  stakes.  This  board  should  always  be  in 
place  at  night  and  removed  during  the  warmest 
part  of  the  day. 

As  there  are  so  many  dark  shades  of  pansies, 
the  lighter  colors  should  be  planted  in  greater 
quantity  than  dark  shades,  otherwise  there  will 
not  be  a  very  striking  effect  when  the  pansies  are  in 
bloom. 

Every  garden  should  have  a  pansy  bed.  The  plants 
bloom  all  summer  and  the  more  they  are  picked, 
the  more  prolific  they  become,  producing  a  larger 
flower  as  the  season  advances. 

For  early  outdoor  bedding  of  the  pansy,  sow  the 
seed  in  a  cold  frame  in  the  autumn,  September  or 
October.  In  transplanting  the  young  plants  they 
should  be  given  from  three  to  six  inches  of  space 
if  they  are  to  do  their  best. 


Growing  Flowers  105 

Outdoor  pansy  beds  should  be  covered  for  the  winter 
with  a  mulch  of  dry  leaves  and  over  that  stable 
manure.  The  plants  will  come  up  in  the  spring 
and  bloom  until  midsummer,  and  if  properly  cared 
for,  until  the  end  of  the  summer. 

Pansies  for  midsummer  blooming  will  do  better 
if  they  receive  the  sun  only  a  co  ?.'ple  of  hours  in  the 
morning.  Too  much  heat  will  v  ause  small,  puny 
flowers.  Seed  sown  in  June  will  produce  plants 
that  will  flower  in  the  fall. 

Pansies  should  not  be  allowed  to  go  to  seed.  If 
they  do,  the  succeeding  blossoms  will  be  small  in 
size  and  faded  in  color,  and  the  plants  will  soon 
stop  blooming. 

Take  a  few  pansy  plants  indoors  for  the  winter. 
Given  attention,  i.  e.,  warmth,  watering,  and  cul- 
tivation, they  will  keep  right  on  blooming  until 
Christmas  time  and  sometimes  even  longer. 

Peonies 

When  peonies  are  crowding  out  other  plants,  as 
they  so  frequently  do,  they  should  be  trimmed  by 
cutting  off  some  of  the  outer  branches  and  then 
tying  the  stalks  together.  In  the  middle  of  the 


io6  Growing  Flowers 

summer,  the  plants  may  be  cut  down  considerably 
as  they  will  by  that  time  have  acquired  most  of 
the  vigor  necessary  to  sustain  bloom  for  the 
next  season. 

July  or  August,  after  the  peonies  have  stopped 
blooming,  is  the  best  time  to  fertilize,  as  the  growth 
of  the  plant  will  not  then  be  interfered  with  from 
digging  around  it  and  no  harm  can  be  done  to  the 
flowers.  This  is  also  the  best  time  for  moving  the 
roots  to  a  new  location,  as  they  will  then  have  time 
to  start  growing  afresh  before  the  ground  becomes 
chilled. 

Peonies  are  among  the  most  satisfactory  of  plants. 
The  foliage  alone  is  beautiful.  They  have  a  long 
season,  and  if  planted  in  rich,  well-drained  soil  will 
require  very  little  attention  beyond  cultivating 
once  or  twice  during  the  season,  and  covering  with 
an  inch  of  manure  before  cold  weather. 

The  fall  of  the  year  is  the  best  season  for  planting 
peonies.  If  set  out  in  the  spring  the  work  should 
be  done  just  as  early  as  the  danger  of  severe  cold 
is  over  or  they  will  not  reward  one  with  blossoms 
that  season.  When  planting  early  in  the  spring, 
the  soil  should  be  well  mulched  with  stable  manure. 


Growing  Flowers  107 

Peonies  should  be  mulched  with  a  good  coating  of 
manure  or  other  litter  in  the  fall  and  this  coating 
allowed  to  remain  on  during  the  winter.  This 
will  tend  to  warm  the  ground  and  will  prevent  the 
plants  alternately  freezing  and  thawing,  which  is 
hard  on  any  plant.  This  treatment  will  be  bene- 
ficial for  any  hardy  perennial,  and  particularly 
for  larkspur,  hollyhock,  columbine,  iris,  and  peren- 
nial poppies,  and  flowers  will  be  produced  much 
earlier  the  following  season  than  if  the  plants  are 
grown  from  seed. 

When  grown  for  the  purpose  of  propagation,  the 
peony  ramifies  more  in  light  soil,  but  when  blooms 
are  desired,  a  well-drained  clay  subsoil,  with  the 
surface  of  rather  rich  loam,  will  be  beneficial. 

Peonies  require  an  abundance  of  water  at  all  times, 
but  particularly  when  they  are  blooming  are  they 
very  thirsty.  Liquid  manure  will  furnish  an  en- 
couraging method  of  both  watering  and  fertiliz- 
ing them. 

When  peonies  flourish  but  fail  to  bloom,  the  fault 
often  lies  with  the  way  they  are  set  in  the  ground. 
The  crowns  should  not  be  set  too  deep  or  the 
blossoms  will  be  affected. 


io8  Growing  Flowers 

Pepper  Plants 

Pepper  plants  require  rich,  well-drained  but  moist 
soil  and  frequent  cultivation.  They  should  be 
given  plenty  of  fresh  air  and  occasionally  should 
be  placed  in  the  strong  sunlight.  The  plants 
should  be  kept  free  from  dust  by  sponging  with  a 
soapsud  solution. 

A  pepper  plant  for  the  house  during  the  winter 
months  will  lend  a  touch  of  color  when  all  flowering 
plants  refuse  to  blossom.  These  plants  require 
sunlight  and  should  be  put  in  the  sun  for  a  little 
while  each  day. 

Periwinkle 

The  periwinkle  is  a  tender  little  plant  but  it 
grows  and  spreads  rapidly  and  is  self -perpetuating. 
The  seed  should  be  sown  in  a  flat  or  hotbed  and  the 
young  plants  transplanted  when  about  two  inches 
in  height.  It  requires  a  rich  soil  and  plenty  of 
moisture. 

When  planting  periwinkles  in  rows,  make  double 
or  triple  rows  and  the  effect  will  be  very  pleasing. 
The  plants  should  be  set  from  six  to  eight  inches 
apart. 


Growing  Flowers  109 

Petunias 

Petunias  are  excellent  as  house  plants  or  for  filling 
window  boxes.  If  staked,  they  will  hold  up  their 
branches  prettily,  but  even  drooping  over  the  side 
they  will  be  graceful  and  attractive.  Petunias 
have  a  long  season  and  require  very  little  care. 

Petunias  are  not  exacting  with  regard  to  soil  and 
will  thrive  in  almost  any  arable  soil,  enduring 
drought  well  and  blooming  in  great  profusion. 
They  should  be  sown  in  a  hotbed  in  March  and 
transplanted  to  the  open  when  the  soil  is  warm 
enough.  The  seed  of  the  double  varieties  requires 
more  attention  to  prevent  extremes  of  temperature 
and  of  moisture  than  the  seed  of  the  single  flowers. 
A  pane  of  glass  placed  over  the  seed  will  be  helpful 
in  preventing  loss  of  moisture.  In  planting  pe- 
tunia seed  in  the  open  ground,  do  not  cover  with 
earth. 

Phlox 

The  phlox  will  thrive  in  any  ordinary  garden  soil 
and  when  once  started  it  is  self -perpetuating,  some- 
times from  the  seed,  and,  where  the  climate  will 
permit,  from  root  increase. 


no  Growing  Flowers 

Phloxes  are  useful  as  window  garden  plants  and  as 
undergrowth  for  tall  bare-stemmed  plants.  They 
should  be  sown  out  of  doors  as  soon  as  danger  of 
frost  is  over.  They  require  very  little  attention. 

The  phlox  transplants  readily  and  if  planted  too 
thickly  will  suffer  from  mildew.  Sulphur  dusted 
over  the  plants  will  usually  rid  them  of  mildew. 

To  remove  the  seedpod  and  dead  flowers  of 
phlox  will  insure  their  blooming  throughout  the 
season. 

When  phloxes  are  used  as  cut  flowers  they  should 
be  put  into  a  vase  or  jardiniere  large  enough  to 
support  them.  The  flowers  are  heavy  and  are 
not  attractive  when  crowded.  They  will  last  for 
days  if  the  water  is  changed. 


Pomegranate 

The  pomegranate  not  only  bears  beautiful  scarlet 
flowers  but  also  an  edible  fruit.  It  is  a  very  hardy 
plant  and  requires  little  care.  A  loamy  soil  is  best 
for  it,  though  it  will  grow  in  the  sandy  soil  of  the 
far  South  and  do  well.  It  requires  plenty  of  sun- 
light and  a  well-protected  location. 


Growing  Flowers  in 

The  pomegranate  was  introduced  into  this  country 
from  Persia  where  it  is  a  popular  fruit.  It  may  be 
propagated  from  cuttings,  though  little  pruning 
is  necessary. 

Poppies 

A  sandy  loam  suits  poppies  best.  Seed  sown  in 
the  autumn  and  at  intervals  in  the  spring  will  make 
a  long  succession  of  flowers.  The  seed  should  be 
sown  thinly  and  covered  very  lightly,  and  plants 
should  be  thinned  to  a  distance  of  one  foot. 

California  poppies,  petunias,  Shirley  poppies,  and 
sweet  alyssum  should  always  be  sown  where  they 
are  to  grow  and  flower  as  they  will  not  bear  trans- 
planting successfully.  The  Shirley  poppy  is  par- 
ticularly adaptable  for  cutting  and  some  of  these 
should  be  included  in  every  garden ;  they  are  bold 
and  brilliant,  delicate  and  airy. 

The  poppy  plants  which  bloom  most  profusely  are 
those  which  were  sown  in  the  fall  of  the  year,  or 
during  the  very  early  spring  months  while  the 
earth  was  cool  and  moist. 

The  Iceland  poppy  should  be  sown  outdoors  in 
September  for  early  spring  flowering.  Seed  planted 
in  April  where  the  climate  will  permit  will  produce 


ii2  Growing  Flowers 

blossoming  plants  in  August  of  the  same  year. 
Grown  in  clumps  these  plants  make  a  splendid 
showing. 

Portulaca 

Portulaca  will  grow  anywhere  and  under  any  soil 
condition.  In  fact,  so  prolific  is  its  growth  that  it 
has  almost  become  a  weed  in  warm  climates. 

Portulaca  seed  will  not  germinate  without  warmth, 
and  as  it  should  be  sown  out  of  doors,  there  is  no 
need  of  sowing  until  quite  late.  Portulaca  re- 
quires little  care  and  there  is  no  other  plant  of  low 
growth  more  pleasing.  This  plant  will  perpetuate 
itself  by  self-sown  seeds. 

Portulaca  can  be  best  transplanted  when  in  full 
growth  and  if  the  plants  are  blooming  profusely 
they  will  not  be  harmed  by  being  moved. 

When  looking  for  edgings,  rockwork  plants,  or 
something  to  fill  in  gaps,  try  portulaca.  It  makes 
beautiful  foliage  as  an  undergrowth  for  tall  plants 
and  will  flourish  under  most  adverse  conditions. 

Pot  Marigold 

The  pot  marigold  requires  a  rich,  light  soil, 
though  it  will  grow  in  almost  any  soil.  The  plants 


Growing  Flowers  113 

bloom  freely  and  earlier  than  the  marigold,  and 
there  are  both  single  and  double  forms  of  the 
flower. 

//  pot  marigold  seed  is  sown  in  the  open  ground 
very  early  in  the  spring  the  plants  will  bloom  early 
in  the  summer  and  will  continue  to  bloom  until  late 
in  the  fall  of  the  year.  The  colors  of  the  flowers 
range  from  ivory,  through  the  many  shades  of 
yellow,  to  deep  orange.  Seed  sown  in  the  hotbed 
during  the  first  week  of  April  will  be  ready  for 
transplanting  the  middle  of  May. 

The  dried  flowers  of  the  pot  marigold  give  an  excel- 
lent flavor  when  put  in  soups  or  added  to  stewed  meat 
while  cooking.  This  will  furnish  a  novelty  in 
flavoring. 

In  hot  climates  where  the  soil  i*  not  very  rich  nor 
very  moist,  the  pot  marigold  seed  should  be  sown 
in  May  as  the  plants  will  not  grow  so  rapidly 
as  those  started  in  June  under  more  favorable 
conditions. 

The  primrose  is  equally  satisfactory  as  a  house 
plant  or  planted  to  form  border  lines  or  solid  beds. 
It  blooms  from  early  spring  until  the  frost  falls 
on  it  and  the  height  averages  eighteen  inches. 


U4  Growing  Flowers 

Primrose  seed  should  be  sown  in  an  open  border 
or  in  a  cold  frame  in  the  spring.  When  trans- 
planted, the  plants  should  stand  about  a  foot 
apart  and  should  be  set  in  rather  thin  or  sandy  soil. 

If  the  seed  of  primrose  is  planted  in  July  and 
the  seedlings  transplanted  to  the  cold  frame  when 
the  weather  grows  cold,  they  may  be  kept  during  the 
winter  months  and  set  out  again  in  the  garden  in 
May,  when  they  will  bloom  much  earlier  than  if 
planted  that  season. 

Primrose 

Primulas  should  be  sown  in  light,  sandy  compost 
and  given  ample  drainage.  If  sown  in  pots,  one 
third  of  the  pot  at  the  bottom  should  be  filled  with 
stones  or  pieces  of  broken  pots.  The  plants  should 
have  plenty  of  air  and  not  too  much  water  at  any 
time. 

Prince's- Feather 

Prince's -feather  makes  a  beautiful  background 
and  adds  brilliant  coloring  to  the  garden.  Red, 
yellow,  and  green  should  be  included  in  every  col- 
lection. The  heads  can  be  cut  in  the  fall  and  pre- 
served throughout  the  winter  months. 


Growing  Flowers  115 

Prince' s-feather  will  thrive  in  almost  any  soil,  but 
a  deep,  rich  soil,  fairly  moist,  will  produce  hand- 
some showy  heads,  and  the  seed  will  come  up  year 
after  year.  The  young  plants  that  are  not  desired 
should  be  weeded  out  in  order  to  allow  the  best 
plants  to  get  all  the  nourishment  they  need  from 
the  soil. 

If  the  flowers  of  prince* s-feather  are  given  a  thin 
coating  of  melted  paraffin,  they  will  not  fall  apart 
for  a  long  time. 

Rhododendrons 

Rhododendrons  require  moist,  loamy  soil.  Dead 
leaves  buried  near  the  roots  each  fall  will  prove 
most  beneficial.  The  drainage  should  be  good. 

Rhododendrons  do  not  produce  the  finest  flowers  if 
grown  from  cuttings,  seed  plants  being  by  far  the 
most  satisfactory.  It  is  necessary  to  prune  them 
while  young  to  insure  hardiness. 

When  old  rhododendron  plants  begin  to  fail,  water 
every  other  day  with  water  in  which  cow-manure 
has  been  soaked.  This  water  should  be  applied 
to  the  roots  by  means  of  a  pipe  driven  into  the 
ground  to  a  point  where  it  will  come  in  contact  with 


n6  Growing  Flowers 

the  roots.  They  will  not  thrive  in  the  glaring 
sunlight.  The  best  roots  are  usually  near  the 
surface  but  all  roots  should  be  fed  in  order  to 
invigorate  the  plant. 

Manure  should  never  be  applied  to  rhododendrons. 
It  is  far  too  heavy  and  heating  for  them.  Leaf- 
mold  should  be  worked  into  the  earth  to  a  depth 
of  at  least  twelve  inches  and  the  plants  should  be 
kept  moist  and  cool  by  a  covering  of  straw  or  dead 
leaves  on  the  ground  near  the  plants. 

Rock  Cress 

The  rock  cress  is,  as  its  name  indicates,  a  plam 
for  the  rock  garden.  It  has  a  matted  growth  and  is 
excellent  for  ugly  bare  spots  that  should  be  entirely 
hidden.  Ten  or  twelve  small  plants  will  be  neces- 
sary for  as  many  inches  square. 

Rock  cress  may  be  propagated  either  from  seed, 
by  cuttings,  or  by  division  of  the  roots.  It  grows  best 
if  planted  in  a  sunny  spot  and  it  must  have  some 
sun. 

Rose  Geranium 

The  rose  geranium  can  be  trained  to  tree  form 
by  pinching  off  the  small  lower  branches.  This 


Growing  Flowers  117 

should  be  done  while  they  are  quite  small  and 
before  they  have  used  the  sap  for  growth  which 
might  better  go  toward  the  growth  of  the  perma- 
nent branches.  It  will  thrive  under  the  same  soil 
conditions  as  the  ordinary  geranium. 

Rosemary 

Rosemary  makes  a  very  pretty  informal  hedge. 
It  is  not  difficult  to  cultivate,  requiring  only  a 
moderately  rich  soil.  Pruning  is  not  necessary 
every  season,  but  only  when  the  bushes  begin  to 
present  a  scraggly  appearance.  The  leaves  are 
very  fragrant  and  the  flowers  quite  pretty. 

In  the  south  of  Europe  the  rosemary  is  cultivated 
largely  for  rosemary  oil  which  has  commercial 
value.  It  may  be  propagated  by  cuttings  without 
much  trouble,  but  when  extensively  grown  seed 
is  usually  sown. 

Roses 

Rose  cuttings  should  be  taken  from  the  bushes 
early  in  October.  From  eight  to  ten  inches  is  a 
good  length,  though  successful  rooting  can  be 
made  from  even  half  this  length.  The  cutting 
should  always  be  made  immediately  below  a  joint. 


n8  Growing  Flowers 

In  rooting  rose  cuttings,  plant  the  cutting  two 
thirds  or  three  fourths  of  its  length,  leaving  only 
a  small  portion  above  ground.  This  portion  will 
be  of  little  value,  as  the  main  thing  is  to  get  the 
roots,  and  the  new  branches  will  look  out  for  them- 
selves. The  soil  should  be  kept  moist,  though  not 
wet. 

In  securing  rose  cuttings  for  rooting,  the  slips 
should  be  taken  from  the  branches  which  are  a 
year  old.  Tender,  new  shoots  have  not  sufficient 
strength  and  if  they  succeed  at  all  will  take  a 
much  longer  time  than  the  slips  of  older  branches. 

One  very  successful  method  of  rooting  rose  cuttings 
is  to  notch  or  cut  the  stem  an  inch  or  two  below 
a  joint.  This  cut  should  be  made  direct  through 
the  stem  to  the  center  and  should  then  extend  up- 
ward until  it  has  passed  through  the  joint.  A  little 
pebble  may  be  placed  in  the  cut  to  keep  it  well 
open.  The  branch  should  then  be  laid  in  the  soil 
and  firmly  covered  with  earth  and  it  should  remain 
in  the  ground  until  the  following  autumn,  if  placed 
there  in  midsummer.  A  stone,  or  two  little  pegs 
driven  in  the  ground,  will  hold  the  branch  down. 

In  growing  roses  for  seed,  keep  them  in  the  green- 
house. The  flowers  will  then  come  early  and  the 


Growing  Flowers  119 

seeds  will  ripen  in  good  season,  and  they  will  be 
more  reliable  than  those  that  ripen  out  of  doors. 
A  piece  of  stalk  should  remain  attached  to  each 
seed  pod  when  gathered,  and  stalk  and  pod  should 
be  buried  in  pots  of  moist  sand. 

Tender,  young  rose  seedlings  should  be  handled 
very  carefully.  It  is  extremely  difficult  to  raise 
plants  from  seed.  The  seed  should  be  kept  cov- 
ered with  a  glass  in  a  temperature  of  forty-five 
degrees,  and  when  the  young  plants  appear,  the 
glass  should  be  removed  and  the  seedlings  brought 
to  the  light.  They  should  be  hardened  gradually 
before  transplanting,  and  when  transplanting  is 
being  done,  as  much  soil  as  possible  should  be 
taken  up  with  the  plants. 

Entirely  new  roses  are  bred  often  by  chance  from 
home  seed  pods.  The  growing  of  roses  is  one  of 
the  most  fascinating  bits  of  work  in  floriculture, 
as  one  can  never  tell  what  a  new  rose  will  be  like. 
Always  the  finest  blossoms  should  be  left  to  form 
rose-apples,  or  seed. 

Rose  bushes  should  be  kept  clean  to  aid  in  keeping 
them  free  from  insects  and  disease.  All  fallen 
leaves  should  be  gathered  and  burned  or  they  will 
harbor  insects. 


120  Growing  Flowers 

To  rid  rose  bushes  of  black  spot,  spray,  after  the 
leaves  have  fallen,  with  a  solution  of  one  ounce  of 
sulphate  of  copper  dissolved  in  two  gallons  of 
water.  This  spray  should  be  applied  to  the  sur- 
face of  the  ground  immediately  surrounding  the 
bushes  as  well  as  to  the  bushes  themselves. 

//  the  rose  garden  has  a  drainage  foundation  of 
cinders  or  pebble  under  its  rich  loam,  the  roses 
will  be  much  benefited.  Clay  soil  is  excellent  for 
roses,  though  some  varieties  of  roses  will  thrive  in 
any  soil,  hence  it  is  possible  for  everyone  in  every 
locality  to  have  roses. 

Roses  cannot  be  planted  too  carefully.  Sufficiently 
large  holes  should  be  dug  that  the  roots  may  be 
arranged  in  such  way  as  not  to  be  crowded. 

The  space  between  rose  bushes  should  be  twice  as 
great  as  their  height.  Roses  will  not  flourish  if  they 
are  crowded,  and  always  there  should  be  a  depres- 
sion in  the  soil  surrounding  the  rose  bush  that  the 
water  may  sink  into  the  ground  instead  of  draining 
to  the  surrounding  surface. 

When  mildew  affects  the  rose  bushes,  spray  the 
plants  with  a  solution  of  one  half  ounce  of  sul- 
phide of  potassium  dissolved  in  a  gallon  of  water. 
Two  or  three  sprayings  will  usually  be  sufficient 


Growing  Flowers  121 

to  rid  the  leaves  of  mildew  and  give  the  bushes 
a  healthy  start  again. 

Always  have  some  potted  roses  and  you  will  have 
early  buds.  They  may  remain  in  the  same  pots 
without  being  repotted  for  several  years  and  no 
harm  will  be  done,  though  a  firm  potting  of  turfy 
soil  which  has  mixed  with  it  one  third  the  amount 
of  compost  should  be  the  bedding.  Crushed  bone 
should  be  applied  at  least  once  each  season. 

Covering  rose  bushes  and  other  plants  with  dry 
earth  during  the  winter  is  better  than  covering 
with  leaves,  as  the  mice  frequent  bushes  covered  by 
leaves  and  will  often  gnaw  all  the  bark  from  a  plant 
when  they  once  come  in  contact  with  it. 

If  roses  are  sprayed  frequently  with  nicotine  solu- 
tion the  green  fly  and  other  insects  will  not  molest 
them.  It  is  much  better  to  spray  before  insects 
make  their  attack,  than  to  wait  until  injury  has 
been  done  to  the  rose  bushes. 

Scotch  soot  applied  to  the  roots  of  rose  bushes 
once  or  twice  during  the  season  will  give  a  richer 
shade  to  the  color  of  the  petals  and  the  leaves. 

Dried  blood  should  be  applied  to  the  roots  of  roses 
once  a  season.  Blood  gives  nourishment  which  is 


122  Growing  Flowers 

not  supplied  in  abundance  by  any  other  form  of 
fertilizer. 

Sheep  manure  is  a  splendid  fertilizer  for  roses. 
It  may  be  mixed  with  hardwood  ashes,  which  are 
also  beneficial,  and  both  applied  at  the  same  time. 

In  planting  roses,  a  little  basic  slag  should  be 
mixed  with  the  soil  at  the  bottom  of  the  hole  in 
which  the  plants  are  to  be  set,  and  a  cupful  of 
crushed  bone  should  be  mixed  with  the  soil  which 
is  poured  into  the  hole  around  the  stem. 

Nearly  all  varieties  of  roses  require  a  nch  soil 
and  a  moderate  amount  of  moisture.  All  roses  are 
hardy  in  the  South  but  must  be  nurtured  somewhat 
carefully  in  the  Northern  States.  They  should  be 
transplanted  in  the  spring,  though  to  transplant 
in  the  fall  will  do  little  or  no  harm. 

A  dose  of  liquid  manure  worked  in  around  the  rose- 
bushes twice  during  the  summer  months  will  en- 
courage their  growth.  They  use  a  great  deal  of 
the  earth's  sustenance  when  in  bloom. 

The  first  crop  of  buds  of  the  Clotille  Soupert 
should  be  cut  off  or  they  will  remain  in  the  "  button  " 
stage  and  there  will  be  no  perfect  roses  during  the 
season.  If  the  first  buds  are  cut  off  there  will  be  a 


Growing  Flowers  123 

splendid  crop  of  beautifully  grown  roses  during 
the  entire  season. 

All  climbing  roses  should  be  trained  on  a  trellis 
or  other  support  as  soon  as  they  start  growth,  other- 
wise the  young,  tender  growth  is  likely  to  be  nipped 
off  and  the  growth  of  the  vine  will  be  greatly 
checked. 

In  the  North,  roses  should  be  protected  throughout 
the  winter  months  by  a  mulch  of  leaves,  straw,  burlap, 
or  earth  several  inches  thick.  A  mulch  of  manure 
should  be  applied  unless  the  soil  already  is  quite 
rich  enough. 

Remember  that  wood  ashes  are  excellent  for  the  rose 
bushes.  A  hole  should  be  dug  near  the  roots  of 
the  rose  and  the  ashes  buried  therein.  Putting  it 
on  as  a  top  dressing  will  do  no  good  whatever. 

The  rose  bushes  should  be  carefully  watched  to 
see  that  no  slugs  or  leaf -miners  are  working  on 
them.  A  thorough  spraying  with  Bordeaux  mix- 
ture early  in  the  season,  and  at  intervals  throughout 
the  season,  will  keep  the  rose  bushes  free  from  bugs. 

Prune  all  rose  bushes  as  soon  as  they  stop  bloom- 
ing. Not  to  prune  the  bushes  will  result  in  many 


124  Growing  Flowers 

shoots  and  very  poor  flowers.     It  is  only  on  the 
young  laterals  that  the  best  roses  appear. 

Most  rose  bushes  can  be  trained  to  become  rose  trees 
by  trimming  off  all  shoots  near  the  ground,  staking 
the  plant,  and  allowing  the  top  branches  to  spread. 
The  centers  of  the  top  branches  should  be  pinched 
out  to  form  spreading  tops. 

In  the  fall  in  localities  where  the  climate  is  severe, 
remove  all  climbing  roses  from  their  supports,  if 
possible,  and  cover  the  branches  with  earth.  A 
little  trimming  may  be  desirable  to  lessen  the 
space  occupied  by  the  branches  on  the  ground. 

Mounds  of  earth  from  five  to  ten  inches  high 
drawn  up  around  the  base  of  the  rose  bushes  will 
protect  the  stems  from  mice.  As  an  added  protec- 
tion, the  ground  should  be  permitted  to  freeze 
slightly  before  winter  protection  is  supplied. 

When  mildew  comes  on  the  rose  bushes,  the  bushes 
should  be  dusted  with  powdered  sulphur.  If  this 
does  not  prove  to  be  effective  the  rose  bushes 
should  be  removed  to  some  other  location  the  next 
spring.  Too  much  shade  will  often  cause  mildew, 
or  too  little  circulation  of  air. 


Growing  Flowers  125 

Moss  roses  and  sweeibriers  should  be  washed 
occasionally  if  planted  where  they  get  much  dust 
or  where  there  is  soot  in  the  atmosphere.  The 
leaves  gather  dust  and  soot  easily  and  when  they 
are  covered  the  plants  cannot  breathe  enough 
oxygen  and  they  will  soon  become  sickly  looking 
and  may  die. 

The  sweetbrier  rose  makes  an  excellent  hedge  as  a 
shelter  for  rose  beds,  as  it  is  proof  against  exposure, 
thus  protecting  the  rose  bushes  from  strong  winds 
on  the  north  or  east,  and  also  serving  as  a  beauti- 
ful background. 

Charming  hedges  and  backgrounds  may  be  made 
by  planting  a  number  of  Ayrshire,  multiflora, 
Scotch,  hybrid  perpetual,  and  tea  roses.  There 
is  nothing  quite  as  satisfactory  to  the  gardener  as 
a  plenteous  supply  of  beautiful  roses,  and  one  can 
never  have  too  many. 

A  southern  exposure  is  the  best  for  the  rose  bushes, 
or  if  this  cannot  be  had,  then  at  least  some  pro- 
tection from  the  cold  winds  of  the  north  should  be 
provided.  In  arranging  this  protection,  do  not 
deprive  the  roses  of  sunlight  or  they  will  not 
thrive. 


126  Growing  Flowers 

Among  the  qualifications  of  the  Tausendschoen 
(thousand  beauties)  are : 

The  color  is  an  unchanging,  beautiful  shell  pink. 
It  has  a  pronounced  fragrance. 
The  flower  has  unusual  lasting  qualities. 
It  keeps  in  good  condition  when  cut. 
It  is  immune  to  insects,  mildew,  and  disease. 
It  is  a  rapid  grower. 

It  has  a  great  number  of  flowers  in  proportion  to 
its  woody  growth,  and 

Its  foliage  is  beautiful  all  summer. 

Monthly  roses  are  not  the  choicest  roses  but  they 
are  the  ones  which  give  the  greatest  amount  of  satis- 
faction year  in  and  year  out. 

Among  the  roses  that  are  satisfactory  for  plant- 
ing in  city  back  yards  are  the  following : 

China  Roses  Enchantress  Gloire  de  Dijon 

La  France  Jacqueminot  Duke  of  Edinburgh 

Baroness  Rothschild  Grace  Darling  Clio 

Waltham  Climber  Crimson  Rambler 

In  planning  a  color  scheme,  one  should  never 
neglect  the  roses.  There  is  such  a  variety  of  color 
among  them  that  it  makes  them  almost  the  most 
important  flower  in  the  garden  during  their  bloom- 


Growing  Flowers  127 

ing  season.     Below  is  given  a  list  of  some  of  the 
best  growing  roses  according  to  color: 

White  Light  Yellow  Dark  Yellow 

Boul  de  Niege  Caroline  Kuster          Lady  Roberts 
Coquette  des  Blanches  Cloth  of  Gold  W.  A.  Richardson 

Gardenia  Duchess  of  Portland  Pierre  Netting 

Lacharme  Mare"chal  Neil 

White  Lady  Medea 

Bessie  Brown  Etoile  de  Lyon 

Pink  Dark  Red 

Aurora  Madame  Camille        Crimson  Rambler 

Marie  Verdier  Pink  Rover  Duke  of  Albany 

Clara  Watson  Duchess  of  Fife  Prince  Arthur 

Captain  Christy  Baroness  Rothschild  Emperor 

Ethel  Brownlow  Killarney  Zanzibar 

La  France  Duke  of  Fife 

Liberty 
Betty  Berkeley 

A  list  of  climbing  roses  which  are  easily  trained 
over  doorways  and  arches: 

White  Yellow 

Rampante  W.  A.  Richardson 

Aime"e  Vibert  Aglaia 

Bennett's  Seedling  Jersey  Beauty 

Wichuriana  Cloth  of  Gold 

Pink  Red 

Dorothy  Perkins  Crimson  Rambler 

Euphrosyne  Ard's  Rover 

Flora  Carmine  Pillar 

Garland  Gracilis 

Waltham  Rambler  Reine  Marie  Henriette 


128  Growing  Flowers 

Salpiglossis 

Salpiglossis  is  sometimes  hard  to  get  started  and 
it  should  be  started  in  the  greenhouse  or  indoors 
and  hardened  off  before  being  put  out  of  doors. 
The  soil  should  be  rich  but  light.  In  certain  locali- 
ties it  does  well  when  sown  out  of  doors  and  a 
second  sowing  can  be  made  for  blossoming  late  in 
the  summer. 

Salpiglossis,  sometimes  called  painted  tongue, 
owing  to  the  colored  veins  in  the  leaves,  will  bloom 
for  two  months  or  longer  under  favorable  condi- 
tions. //  is  most  effective  when  planted  in  groups. 

Scabiosa 

Scabiosa  is  not  a  plant  of  rare  beauty  but  it 
becomes  a  great  favorite  with  those  who  appreciate 
a  flower  of  long  season.  It  may  be  treated  as  an 
annual  and  raised  from  seed  under  glass;  as  a 
biennial  and  sown  in  June  for  planting  in  perma- 
nent position  in  the  fall,  and  in  some  localities 
as  a  perennial. 

Scabiosa  requires  a  sunny  location,  but  it  will 
thrive  in  almost  any  soil  and  is  particularly  adapted 
to  the  rock  garden.  It  may  be  propagated  either 


Growing  Flowers  129 

by  seed  or  by  a  division  of  the  roots.  The  root 
division  should  be  made  in  the  spring  or  in  the 
early  fall. 

Scarlet  Sage 

Scarlet  sage  is  one  of  the  most  satisfactory  of 
autumn  flowers.  It  makes  a  good  plant  for  window 
boxes,  for  pots,  and  for  cutting  in  decorating.  As 
a  hedge  or  border  plant  it  cannot  be  surpassed. 

The  seed  of  salvia,  or  scarlet  sage,  should  be  sown 
in  cold  frames  or  window  boxes  in  March  or  April 
and  the  young  plants  transplanted  during  the 
latter  part  of  May.  If  the  seed  is  to  be  sown 
where  the  plants  are  to  stand,  it  should  not  be 
planted  until  the  first  of  June  and  the  young 
seedlings  should  be  protected  from  strong  wind  and 
heavy  rain.  A  rich  light  soil  is  required. 

Silene 

The  seed  of  silene  should  be  sown  in  August  in  the 
cold  frame  and  the  young  plants  transplanted  to 
the  garden  when  the  frost  is  out  of  the  ground. 
The  plants  should  be  set  four  or  five  inches  apart, 
or  they  may  be  planted  for  mass  effect  or  in 
rows.  They  require  light,  well-drained  soil. 


130  Growing  Flowers 

In  cold  climates  silene  plants  should  be  covered  in 
the  winter  with  a  thin  mulch  of  leaves,  or  straw, 
or  even  a  slat  frame  will  answer. 

Silene  mixed  with  German  iris  makes  an  attrac- 
tive combination.  If  the  plants  are  kept  moist,  they 
will  continue  blossoming  until  late  in  the  season. 
They  should  not  be  planted  where  they  will  receive 
too  much  strong  sunlight. 

Smilax 

Smilax  has  a  great  commercial  value  as  there  is 
no  vine  which  lends  itself  more  prettily  to  decora- 
tion. It  is  of  vigorous  growth  and  requires  plenty 
of  room  for  spreading.  It  should  always  be  planted 
in  a  rich,  loamy  soil. 

The  roots  of  smilax  are  used  in  making  sarsaparilla 
which  is  in  such  common  use.  It  can  be  propagated 
by  detaching  sections  of  the  roots  in  the  fall  of  the 
year.  Little  pruning  should  be  done,  instead 
plenty  of  room  and  good  soil  should  be  given  to 
induce  rapid  and  prolific  growth. 

Snapdragon 

Seed  of  the  snapdragon  sown  in  the  open  ground  in 
May  will  produce  flowers  in  July  or  August.  For 


Growing  Flowers  131 

earlier  flowers,  the  seed  should  be  sown  under  glass 
in  February  or  March  and  the  young  plants  trans- 
planted to  the  open  ground  as  soon  as  the  weather 
grows  warm  enough  to  slightly  heat  the  ground. 

While  the  snapdragon  is  a  perennial  it  will  pro- 
duce a  greater  variety  of  flowers,  and  much  more 
handsome  ones,  if  the  seed  is  sown  every  year. 
//  should  be  treated  in  every  way  as  an  annual. 

To  protect  the  snapdragon  through  the  winter  for 
early  spring  blooming,  it  should  be  protected  by  a 
mulch  of  leaves  or  manure  during  the  cold  months. 

The  snapdragon  requires  a  moderately  rich  soil 
and  a  good,  sunny  location,  with  frequent  waterings. 
The  average  height  of  this  plant  is  from  fifteen  to 
eighteen  inches. 

Sneezeweed 

Sneezeweed  thrives  in  ordinary  garden  soil,  and 
requires  little  attention,  other  than  a  semi-occa- 
sional cultivation  and  a  division  of  the  roots  every 
two  or  three  years. 

Sneezeweed,  or  helenium,  planted  as  a  group  is 
very  effective.  Each  variety  should  be  kept  sepa- 


132  Growing  Flowers 

rate  in  this  case,  to  give  a  more  pronounced  effect. 
The  plants  should  be  staked  before  they  have  at- 
tained much  growth,  otherwise  the  rain  or  wind 
will  soon  beat  them  down. 


Snowdrop 

The  bush  snowdrop  will  grow  in  almost  any  soil 
and  requires  little  cultivation.  The  flowers  are 
harbingers  of  spring  and  hence  receive  an  enthu- 
siastic welcome.  For  planting  among  shrubbery, 
in  rocky  places,  in  shady  places,  or  in  clumps  it 
is  equally  satisfactory. 

Spir&a 

Spricsa  is  beautiful  as  a  separate  and  distinct 
bush,  in  clusters,  or  for  forming  a  hedge.  It 
thrives  in  rich,  loamy  soil  and  should  have  an  appli- 
cation of  manure  every  fall,  though  it  will  grow  and 
flower  very  prettily  in  a  sandy  soil. 

There  are  so  many  members  of  the  spircea  family 
that  some  one  kind  may  be  chosen  for  almost  any 
site  or  location,  or  garden  scheme.  It  is  not  neces- 
sary to  prune  it,  but  an  occasional  pruning,  say 
every  two  years,  will  prove  beneficial. 


Growing  Flowers  133 

Stocks 

Stocks  require  a  deep,  rich  soil  in  order  to  do  their 
best.  They  are  most  satisfactory  for  both  garden 
plants  and  as  cut  flowers.  They  are  easy  to  grow 
in  almost  any  soil  and  have  a  great  variety  of 
flowers.  Frequent  transplantings  will  give  them  a 
stocky  growth. 

Stocks  that  bloom  late  may  be  preserved  during  the 
winter  if  they  are  lifted  carefully  and  potted  before 
the  earth  falls  from  the  roots.  As  much  earth  as 
possible  should  be  taken  up  with  them,  and  the 
temperature  of  the  room  in  which  they  are  kept 
should  be  fairly  cool  and  the  soil  kept  somewhat 
moist. 

Sunflowers 

For  planting  in  a  garden  where  there  is  plenty  of 
space,  the  sunflower  will  yield  satisfactory  results. 
Planted  among  shrubbery,  the  yellow  blossoms 
are  at  their  best.  It  will  thrive  under  almost  all 
conditions  and  in  any  soil,  though  a  moderately 
rich  soil,  with  good  drainage,  is  best. 

Sunflower  seed  should  be  planted  in  the  open 
ground  in  the  spring,  as  soon  as  the  ground  is  free 


134  Growing  Flowers 

from  frost,  and  the  plants  should  be  thinned  to 
stand  three  or  four  feet  apart.  Some  plants  grow 
to  a  height  of  ten  feet. 


Sweet  Peas 

A  mixture  of  bone  meal  and  soot  applied  to  the  soil 
in  which  sweet  peas  are  to  be  planted  will  help  greatly 
in  securing  large,  long-stemmed  flowers.  All  but 
three  or  four  stems  on  each  plant  should  be  pinched 
off  as  soon  as  they  are  large  enough  to  determine 
which  will  be  the  best  ones  to  leave  on. 

Sweet  peas  should  be  planted  in  trenches  eight 
inches  deep  and  the  seed  covered  to  a  depth  of  one 
inch.  After  the  plants  have  attained  a  growth  of 
five  or  six  inches,  the  soil  should  gradually  be 
banked  up  around  them  until  it  is  within  an  inch 
of  being  level  with  the  surface  of  the  earth  sur- 
rounding the  trench.  This  tends  to  conserve  the 
moisture  and  quickens  the  growth  of  the  vines. 

The  most  satisfactory  way  of  growing  sweet  peas 
is  in  long  rows  provided  with  rabbit-netting  wire, 
supported  by  strong  anchor  posts  and  intermediate 
stakes  to  prevent  the  wire  from  sagging  between 
its  supports. 


Growing  Flowers  135 

Sweet  peas  require  soil  well  supplied  with  plant 
food.  Ten  inches  of  rich  garden  loam,  in  the  bot- 
tom of  which  has  been  worked  in  three  or  four 
inches  of  compost,  and  over  that  two  inches  of 
fine  top  soil,  will  produce  wonderful  results.  A 
coarse  top  soil  of  sand  is  very  important.  The 
soil  should  not  be  too  rich  and  a  balance  is  some- 
times difficult  to  strike,  but  when  once  struck, 
sweet  peas  no  longer  will  be  hard  to  grow. 

In  the  South  sweet  peas  should  be  sown  in  the  fall 
in  order  that  they  may  get  an  early  start  before 
the  weather  becomes  too  warm.  In  the  North, 
all  preparatory  work  should  be  done  in  the  autumn 
that  the  seed  may  be  planted  as  early  in  March  as 
practicable. 

Sweet  peas  should  be  thinned  out  in  order  that  the 
roots  may  have  branching  space.  A  vine  every 
six  inches  will  produce  better  results  in  growth  and 
blossom  than  plants  only  two  inches  apart.  They 
should  be  cultivated  frequently. 

When  sweet  peas  are  to  be  transplanted,  they 
should  be  started  in  small  paper  cups,  or  dirt  bands, 
and  transplanted  by  setting  the  cup  in  the  soil. 
The  paper  should  be  torn  away  gently  in  order  not 
to  disturb  the  young  roots. 


136  Growing  Flowers 

To  keep  bugs  off  the  sweet  pea  vines,  spray  every 
few  days,  or  once  a  week,  at  least,  with  a  solution 
composed  of  strong  smoking  tobacco  soaked  for 
twenty-four  hours  in  cold  water.  A  pound  of 
tobacco  to  two  gallons  of  water  will  be  a  good  pro- 
portion. When  desired  to  use  at  once,  boil  for  an 
hour  or  more  instead  of  leaving  to  soak  overnight. 

Sweet  peas  will  stop  blooming  if  they  are  allowed 
to  go  to  seed.  The  blossoms  should  be  picked  regu- 
larly and  thoroughly. 

To  keep  sweet  peas  fresh  after  cutting,  take  them 
from  the  vines  early  in  the  morning  while  the  dew 
is  still  on  them  and  put  in  water  to  which  has  been 
added  a  little  soft  charcoal. 

For  growing  long-stemmed  sweet  peas,  the  seed 
should  be  sown  the  latter  part  of  January  or  the 
early  part  of  February.  The  seed  should  be  sown 
in  dirt  bands,  or  paper  cups,  and  the  cup  planted 
with  the  young  plant  as  soon  as  the  ground  is 
sufficiently  warm  to  justify  the  planting. 

Sweet  pea  blossoms  should  always  be  cut  from  the 
vines,  never  broken  or  pulled  off.  Pulling  them  is 
liable  to  injure  the  vines  by  loosening  the  roots. 


Growing  Flowers  137 

If  the  soil  around  the  sweet  pea  vines  is  mulched 
with  the  clippings  of  lawn  grass,  it  will  tend  to  keep 
the  ground  cool  and  moist,  a  condition  necessary 
to  the  successful  growing  of  sweet  peas.  Watering 
the  sweet  peas  should  never  be  neglected. 

Sweet-William 

Sweet-william  requires  a  rich  soil  and  an  abun- 
dance of  moisture  in  order  to  produce  large,  showy 
flowers.  Seed  should  be  sown  in  hotbeds  the  first 
week  in  March,  and  the  young  plants  transplanted 
to  small  pots  for  a  few  weeks  before  setting  out  of 
doors.  This  will  give  strong,  vigorous  plants. 

When  seed  of  sweet-william  is  sown  in  the  open 
ground,  to  get  the  very  best  results,  the  plants 
should  be  thinned  out  so  that  every  plant  will 
stand  at  least  eight  inches  apart. 

Sweet-william  has  a  long  season  and  requires  prac- 
tically no  care  after  once  coming  up  in  the  open, 
or  having  been  transplanted  for  the  last  time. 

In  transplanting  large  sweet-william  plants  at  the 
end  of  the  season,  the  middle  of  September  is  the 
latest  period  at  which  they  should  be  moved.  In 
re-planning  the  garden  beds,  bear  this  in  mind. 


138  Growing  Flowers 

Thistle 

Perhaps  no  plant  bears  such  a  bad  reputation  as 
the  Canadian  thistle.  Certainly  it  is  a  pest  with 
its  habit  of  laying  over  winter  in  a  dormant 
condition  and  its  seeds  infesting  a  neighborhood 
for  miles.  The  roots  as  well  as  the  tops  must  be 
killed.  To  prune  the  tops  will  make  it  thrive  more 
luxuriously  than  ever.  Salt  spread  over  a  thistle 
patch  will  eventually  kill  off  the  plants. 

A  coating  of  straw  or  manure  a  foot  or  more  in 
depth  left  on  for  a  period  of  eight  or  ten  weeks  will 
kill  the  thistle. 

Tulips 

Darwin  and  cottage  tulips  are  often  grown  in 
clusters  and  never  disturbed  from  one  year  to  another 
with  excellent  results.  They  are  cultivated  and 
fertilized  with  liquid  fertilizer,  and  no  more  atten- 
tion paid  to  them. 

Tulips  require  a  rich,  heavy  soil  and  should  be 
kept  moderately  moist.  They  should  be  planted 
in  the  fall  and  left  in  the  ground  over  winter.  The 
bulbs  should  be  covered  to  two  or  three  times  their 


Growing  Flowers  139 

depth  and  a  covering  of  straw  or  compost  placed 
over  the  earth  after  covering.  This  covering 
should  be  taken  off  when  the  shoots  begin  to  push 
through  in  the  spring,  but  it  should  be  removed 
gradually  instead  of  taking  all  of  it  off  at  once. 

Tulip  bulbs  should  be  planted  from  four  to  six 
inches  apart  out  of  doors  but  three  or  four  bulbs  may 
be  planted  in  a  six-inch  pot  for  the  house  or  green- 
house, as  these  bulbs  are  forced,  more  or  less,  and 
usually  are  not  good  for  a  second  planting,  at  least, 
not  as  house  plants. 

A  round  bed  of  tulips  six  feet  in  diameter  will  re- 
quire two  hundred  and  fifty  tulip  bulbs  planted  four 
inches  apart. 

To  plant  tulips  between  such  plants  as  daisies, 
moss  pinks,  sweet  alyssum,  forget-me-nots,  and  pan- 
sies  is  a  most  happy  plan.  The  plants  act  as  an 
effective  foil  for  the  tulips. 

When  the  shoots  of  tulips,  hyacinths,  narcissi, 
daffodils,  and  other  bulbs  first  begin  to  appear  above 
ground,  remove  a  little  of  the  covering  which  has 
been  on  all  winter.  The  next  day  remove  a  little 
more,  uncovering  gradually  as  the  shoots  grow  and 
harden.  This  will  cause  the  plants  to  be  strong 


140  Growing  Flowers 

and  hardy  and  the  first  cool  turn  of  weather  will 
not  harm  them. 


Verbena 

Verbena  seed  should  always  be  soaked  in  lukewarm 
water  for  a  few  hours  before  planting  and  should  be 
sown  in  a  hotbed  with  light  rich  soil  on  the  sur- 
face. In  transplanting,  the  plants  should  be  set 
first  in  other  boxes  and  later  be  set  in  the  open 
ground  at  a  distance  of  twelve  inches  apart,  as  they 
spread  in  growing. 

Verbenas  require  plenty  of  sunlight  and  good  drain- 
age, though  they  should  be  watered  frequently, 
and  always  in  the  evening  or  at  night. 

Verbenas  may  be  grown  from  cuttings  with  success, 
but  the  best  flowers,  as  a  rule,  come  from  new 
plants.  They  may  be  used  with  excellent  effect  as 
borders,  in  mounds,  and  in  window  boxes.  They 
bloom  so  profusely  that  a  large  bed  of  white 
verbenas  will  look  like  a  white  sheet  spread  on  the 
ground  at  night. 

The  lemon  verbena  does  not  properly  belong  to  the 
flower  which  we  ordinarily  class  as  the  verbena.  It 


Growing  Flowers  141 

is  not  very  successful  as  a  bedding  plant  but  a  few 
plants  in  a  garden  will  be  much  admired  jor  their 
delicious  fragrance. 

Violets 
Violets  should  be  given  a  rich,  damp  spot. 

Violets  should  not  be  permitted  to  dry  out  during 
hot  weather.  The  soil  should  be  kept  moist  if  the 
plants  are  to  be  in  good  condition  for  flowering. 

When  rust  attacks  violets,  the  diseased  leaves 
should  be  removed  and  the  plants  then  sprayed 
with  a  solution  of  one  half  ounce  of  sulphide  potas- 
sium dissolved  in  a  gallon  of  water. 

Violets  will  benefit  by  having  some  protection.  A 
frame  placed  over  them  when  growing  out  of  doors, 
to  protect  them  from  cold  winds  and  heavy  rains, 
will  cause  them  to  produce  finer  flowers,  and  the 
buds  also  will  open  earlier. 

Wistaria 

The  wistaria  requires  a  rich  soil,  frequent  water- 
ing, and  cultivation  while  young,  but  after  it  has 
once  attained  a  good  wood  growth,  there  will  not 


142  Growing  Flowers 

be  need  for  much  attention,  an  occasional  pruning, 
once  every  two  years,  being  all  that  is  really  neces- 
sary. Basic  slag  or  other  phosphatic  food  applied 
to  the  roots  will  produce  large,  handsome,  showy 
flowers. 

When  wistaria  refuses  to  bloom,  see  that  it  is  not 
overcrowded,  that  the  vines  are  not  wrapped 
around  each  other,  and  then  cut  off  a  part  of  the 
tap-root.  This  root  should  be  cut  off  about  twenty 
inches  below  the  surface  of  the  earth. 

The  wistaria  vine  is  excellent  for  use  where  a 
screen  is  desired.  The  growth,  however,  is  slow, 
which  is  true  of  all  perennials,  and  some  quick- 
growing  annual  should  be  planted  with  it  for  im- 
mediate effect. 

Zinnia 

Given  a  strong  rich  soil  to  begin  with,  no  more 
attention  need  be  paid  the  zinnia  and  it  will 
flourish  on  poor  soil. 

The  zinnia  is  particularly  adapted  for  outdoor 
growth.  It  is  not  delicate  enough  to  be  attractive 
for  use  as  a  house  plant  or  for  cutting  purpose*. 


Growing  Flowers  143 

It  gives  the  best  result  when  massed  with  other 
old-fashioned  flowers,  as  each  separate  flower  has 
little  real  beauty. 

For  June  flowers  the  zinnia  seed  should  be  sown 
in  the  hotbed  the  first  of  April.  It  transplants 
easily  and  if  dead  flowers  are  kept  cut  off,  the 
plants  will  blossom  until  frost  falls.  Zinnias  are 
particularly  advisable  for  planting  in  spots  where 
other  flowers  will  not  thrive,  and  for  heavy  effects. 

Suggestions  for  Vines 

A  rich  well-drained  soil  is  required  for  vines,  and 
annuals  given  the  proper  soil  will  yield  most  satis- 
factory results  while  waiting  for  perennials  to  grow. 
Some  which  have  rapid  growth  are  the  moonflower, 
the  morning-glory,  cypress  vine,  the  hyacinth  bean, 
and  nasturtiums.  For  an  immediate  screening  these 
vines  are  indispensable. 

Vines  which  attach  themselves  to  wire  or  wood 
supports  and  which  are  chiefly  valuable  because  of 
their  covering  and  shading  effects  are  the  wistaria, 
trumpet  flower,  clematis,  ivy,  and  honeysuckle. 

To  pinch  off  the  top  of  bean  vines  and  other 
vines  will  make  them  branch  out  at  the  top  and  bloom 
more  profusely. 


144  Growing  Flowers 

Among  the  vines  which  will  thrive  on  a  north  wall 
are  the  Japanese  quince,  the  winter  jasmine,  golden 
bell,  ivy,  and  climbing  hydrangea.  The  branches 
of  vines  which  are  to  climb  on  a  wall  should 
not  be  too  close  together,  or  they  will  not  flower. 
The  ground  should  be  well  drained  in  order  that 
it  may  not  become  sodden. 

Here  is  a  list  of  some  vines  which  are  very  satis- 
factory for  window  box  culture: 

Madeira  Vine  Tradescantia 

Vinca  Harrisonii  Glechoma 

Othanna  Ivy-leaf  Geraniums 

Saxifraga  German  Ivy 

The  wild  cucumber  grows  rapidly  and  will  cover 
a  summerhouse  in  one  season.  It  has  beautiful 
foliage  and  exceedingly  pretty,  fine  white  flowers. 

The  wild  grape  vine  is  a  rapid  grower  and  can  be 
found  growing  along  the  banks  of  a  creek  or  river 
in  all  parts  of  the  country.  The  flowers  are  very 
fragrant  and  altogether  it  is  one  of  the  most  satis- 
factory of  vines  for  use  as  a  screen  or  shade. 

The  hyacinth  bean  has  brilliant  red  flowers  and 
it  is  excellent  for  training  over  walls  or  other  sup- 
ports having  a  height  of  seven  or  eight  feet.  It 


Growing  Flowers  s  145 

will  come  up  every  year  if  cut  down  and  when 
once  started  will  require  little  care. 

The  old-fashioned  morning-glory  has  no  superior 
for  rapid  growth  and  density  of  foliage.  It  will 
reach  second-story  windows  by  midsummer  if  the 
seed  is  planted  in  dirt  bands  in  February  and 
the  plants  planted  in  the  bands  as  soon  as  the 
ground  is  warm. 

Among  the  climbing  roses  are  the  Dorothy  Per- 
kins, the  Crimson  Rambler,  and,  for  the  Southern 
section  of  the  country,  the  Cloth  of  Gold.  These 
roses  are  hardy  and  do  not  have  to  be  pampered. 
The  Dorothy  Perkins  is  a  beautiful  pink  and  the 
other  two  bespeak  their  colors  in  their  names. 

The  English  ivy  gives  excellent  results  even  when 
planted  in  shady  spots,  or  in  rooms  where  there  is 
not  much  direct  light.  It  should  be  washed  oc- 
casionally and  when  used  as  a  house  plant,  it  may 
be  removed  to  the  out  of  doors  without  much 
trouble  and  laid  on  the  ground  for  the  rain  to  wash 
it  off,  or  for  a  good  ducking  from  the  hose. 

When  the  ivy  looks  old  and  worn,  clip  it  back 
severely  in  February  or  March.  All  the  old  leaves 


146  Growing  Flowers 

may  come  off  without  detriment  to  the  vine  and 
fresh  new  leaves  will  come  in  their  place.  This 
pruning  should  not  take  place  until  just  about  time 
for  the  new  growth  to  start. 

English  ivy  is  easily  rooted  by  inserting  cuttings 
in  a  bottle  of  water  kept  in  a  shady  place.  When 
the  roots  are  well  formed,  the  plants  can  be  potted. 
Another  plan  is  to  take  a  long  branch  and  peg  it 
down.  Every  joint  pegged  down  will  root,  when 
the  stem  can  be  cut,  each  joint  making  a  separate 
plant. 

One  of  the  prettiest  vines  for  the  autumn  is  the 
bittersweet.  It  should  be  planted  where  it  can 
grow  on  an  arbor  or  fence  where  it  will  give  the 
berries  every  chance  for  display. 

The  branches  of  wistaria  and  other  vines  should  not 
be  permitted  to  twist  around  sister  branches.  If  they 
do  their  growth  will  be  stunted  and  the  vine  can 
never  be  trained  to  trail  where  it  is  wanted.  When 
they  once  get  a  start  they  are  hard  to  unwind. 

The  hop  vinet  once  grown  only  for  yeast,  is  now 
often  used  in  the  flower  garden.  It  grows  quickly 
and  has  a  beautiful  leaf. 


Growing  Flowers  147 

Vines  such  as  honeysuckle,  clematis,  and  crimson 
rambler  should  be  trained  over  a  wall,  on  a  trellis, 
a  summerhouse,  or  over  a  gateway.  If  permitted  to 
ramble  at  will,  they  will  not  seek  the  best  for  them- 
selves but  will  become  a  matted  mass  and  half  the 
beauty  will  be  underneath. 

The  following  vines  can  be  raised  from  seed  each  year 
and  depended  upon  to  act  as  a  screen  each  season: 

Gourds  Wild  Cucumber  Morning-Glory          Cypress  Vine 

Moonflower    Balloon  Vine         Ornamental  Beans  Japanese  Hop 

Stumps  of  old  trees  covered  with  vines  will  make 
an  unsightly  spot  beautiful.  Dead  bushes  stuck 
in  the  earth  temporarily  and  vines  planted  at 
the  base  will  be  a  most  satisfactory  method  of 
providing  a  place  for  such  vines  as  do  not  require 
a  permanent  trellis. 

Vines  are  so  inexpensive  and  so  easy  to  grow  that 
no  garden  should  be  without  them.  They  are  de- 
lightful for  cutting  and  arranging  indoors.  Long 
sprays  hanging  over  the  side  of  a  tall  vase  form  a 
most  graceful  arrangement  and  a  dining  table  can 
have  no  prettier  floral  decoration  than  vines  twined 
around  a  centerpiece. 

Round  screw  hooks  inserted  in  a  wooden  wall 
will  often  answer  as  a  support  for  vines.  They 


148  Growing  Flowers 

should  be  placed  in  the  position  in  which  the  vines 
are  to  be  trained.  They  are  particularly  good  for 
vines  of  single  stems. 

The  Virginia  creeper  is  sometimes  confused  with 
poison  ivy,  but  there  is  really  no  reason  for  this 
mistake,  for  besides  the  difference  in  leaves  which 
can  so  easily  be  seen  when  placed  side  by  side,  it 
should  be  remembered  that  the  Virginia  creeper 
always  has  five  leaves  on  a  stem  while  poison  ivy 
has  but  three. 

In  destroying  poison  ivy,  pulling  up  the  vine  will 
not  always  rid  a  spot  of  it.  A  strong  solution  of 
bicarbonate  of  soda  dissolved  in  boiling  water 
should  be  poured  all  over  the  surface  of  the  ground 
where  the  vine  has  grown  in  order  to  kill  the  young 
and  tender  roots  which  have  developed  and  started 
growth. 

When  vines  are  desired  for  flat  table  decoration, 
there  is  nothing  prettier  than  clematis.  Both  the 
feathery  white  flowers  and  the  leaves  are  charming, 
and  it  has  the  advantage  of  staying  fresh  a  long 
while  after  it  is  cut  without  being  placed  in  water. 

The  Tartarian  honeysuckle  grows  to  a  height  of 
twelve  feet  and  forms  a  very  graceful  specimen  plant 


Growing  Flowers  149 

with  small  but  very  fragrant  blossoms.     It  thrives 
under  dry  farm  conditions. 

In  every  garden,  there  should  be  a  dishrag  gourd 
vine.  Gourds  are  very  easy  to  grow  and  the 
luffa  makes  excellent  dishcloths.  These  dishcloths 
never  get  really  dirty  or  sour  and  nothing  adheres 
to  them.  One  will  last  six  or  eight  weeks,  becom- 
ing whiter  and  softer  as  it  grows  older.  Three  or 
four  cloths  can  be  made  from  one  luffa  of  fairly 
good  size. 

Gourd  seed  may  be  sown  in  boxes  indoors  in  March 
or  April  and  the  young  plants  transplanted  to 
the  garden  in  May  for  September  blooming.  The 
vines  are  usually  large  and  luxuriant,  and  the 
plants  will  grow  in  almost  any  kind  of  soil,  though 
a  fairly  rich  soil  will  promote  the  best  growth. 

Wood  ashes  applied  to  the  roots  of  gourd  vines 
will  be  very  beneficial  to  the  vines  and  will  have  a 
splendid  effect  on  the  size  of  the  gourds. 

Sweet  pea  vines  and  other  plants  which  have  fin- 
ished blooming  should  be  cleared  away.  For  them 
to  stand  will  only  attract  bugs,  while  they  may  be 
utilized  by  making  humus,  thus  living  over  again 
in  next  year's  plants. 


150  Growing  Flowers 

In  every  garden  there  can  be  found  a  place  for 
climbing  vines.  No  other  variety  of  plant  offers 
so  much  for  the  trouble.  Among  those  which  are 
easiest  to  grow  are: 


Canary-bird  Vine 
Cobaea  scandens 
Cypress  Vine 
Clematis 

Gourds 
Hyacinth  Bean 
Japanese  Hop 
Common  Hop 

Moonflower 
Morning-Glory 
Nasturtium 

General  Plan  of  the  Garden 

Plan  the  garden  on  the  spot.  While  to  put  it 
down  on  paper  will  be  most  helpful,  the  paper 
design  should  be  made  in  the  garden  itself,  other- 
wise there  is  likely  to  be  confusion  when  it  comes 
to  working  out  the  plan  with  actual  plants.  The 
size  of  the  plants  to  be  grown  should  always  be 
taken  into  consideration  when  setting  aside  a 
certain  space. 

Study  the  color  scheme  of  your  garden  as  you 
would  study  the  color  scheme  of  your  living  rooms. 
It  is  just  as  important.  A  first  impression,  gained 
from  the  outdoor  surroundings,  means  much. 

A  flower  garden  should  have  some  protection  on 
the  north  if  early  flowers  are  desired.  A  southern 
or  eastern  exposure  will  permit  the  garden  to  get 


Growing  Flowers  151 

the  benefit  of  the  strong  morning  sunlight,  which 
is  so  beneficial  to  plants. 

Flowers  requiring  thorough  drainage  should  be 
planted  on  a  slope  if  possible.  There  should  be  no 
depressions  on  the  surface  of  the  garden  where 
water  will  stand.  Aside  from  the  excess  moisture 
rotting  the  plants  nearby,  mosquitoes  will  breed 
in  great  numbers. 

The  general  lay-out  of  the  garden  should  be  studied 
before  flowers  are  set  out.  The  location  of  a  flower 
will  have  a  very  important  bearing  on  the  vigor 
and  growth  of  the  plant  as  well  as  determining  the 
size  and  season  of  the  blossoms.  Certain  plants 
will  not  blossom  at  all  unless  they  get  sufficient 
sunlight,  while  others  will  become  parched  from 
too  much  sun.  A  change  of  location  in  the  garden 
often  is  all  that  is  necessary  to  make  a  hitherto  sickly 
plant  thrive. 

Experiment  with  flowers.  Graft  kindred  plants 
and  watch  the  result.  Nothing  will  give  greater 
pleasure  than  making  a  discovery  in  plants,  and 
nothing  will  more  quickly  yield  results. 

Every  yard  and  flower  garden  is  worthy  of  a  plan 
before  planting  is  begun,  and  the  plan  should  be 


152  Growing  Flowers 

drawn  to  scale.  It  should  show  just  what  space 
is  to  be  allotted  to  flowers,  to  shrubs,  and  what 
will  remain  merely  a  grass  plot.  The  trees  to  be 
planted  should  be  carefully  considered  and  the  loca- 
tion for  planting  marked  on  the  plan. 

In  planning  a  garden  on  paper,  quadruled  paper 
should  be  procured.  Draftsmen  use  a  paper  ruled 
in  quarter-inch  squares,  and  in  using  this,  each 
quarter-inch  square  should  represent  a  foot  of 
ground. 

Unless  plants  are  given  sufficient  room  for  full 
development  the  flowers  which  they  produce  will  be 
inferior  in  size,  form,  and  color.  While  it  is  advan- 
tageous to  sow  the  seed  thickly  at  planting  time 
in  order  to  make  sure  that  some  will  germinate,  it 
is  equally  desirable  to  have  the  plants  thinned  so 
as  to  provide  ample  space  for  the  development  of 
each  individual  plant. 

When  flowers  are  grown  for  the  purpose  of  cutting 
the  blossoms  the  most  satisfactory  and  economical 
plan  is  to  plant  them  in  rows  instead  of  clumps  or 
jotted  around  here  and  there. 

For  a  large  amount  of  flowers  in  midsummer  and 
for  the  early  beautification  of  a  new  place  annual 


Growing  Flowers  153 

flowers  will  prove  most  satisfactory.  Hardy  per- 
ennials are  deservedly  popular  as  they  need  little 
attention  from  year  to  year,  but  most  of  them  are 
best  fitted  as  background  plants. 

Planting  should  be  arranged  so  that  it  will  afford 
flowers  each  season  of  the  year.  As  many  colors 
should  be  provided  as  is  possible,  and  plants  of 
different  shades  of  green  in  the  foliage  should  be 
included  in  every  garden. 

In  every  garden,  however  small,  there  should  be  a 
seat.  In  a  small  garden,  the  seat  should  be  small, 
but  where  there  is  plenty  of  space,  a  large  seat  or  a 
group  of  seats,  a  summerhouse  or  a  pergola  with 
seats  can  be  placed  to  advantage.  Let  a  garden 
look  as  if  it  had  human  beings  taking  a  personal 
interest  in  it. 

Large  vases  and  statuary  of  all  kinds  have  no 
place  in  a  small  garden.  These  formidable  looking 
ornaments  are  all  very  well  in  a  large  garden 
where  they  may  be  partly  hidden  by  shrubbery, 
but  they  are  grotesque  in  a  small  garden.  A  gar- 
den is  meant  for  growing  and  displaying  flowers, 
not  artificial  works  of  art,  so-called. 

Cedar  wood  makes  the  best  stakes  for  outdoor  use. 
Oak,  too,  is  very  desirable  as  it  weathers  to  an 


154  Growing  Flowers 

obscure  gray.  Brightly  painted  sticks  of  fancy 
design  do  not  add  to  the  garden,  but  rather  detract 
from  the  natural  beauty  of  the  foliage. 

In  selecting  a  site  for  a  summerhouse,  see  that 
the  view  is  the  most  attractive  in  the  garden.  As 
a  rule,  a  great  deal  of  one's  time,  and  the  time  of 
the  guest,  is  spent  in  the  summerhouse  and  the 
view  is  of  the  utmost  importance 

The  plainer  and  more  simple  the  lines  of  the  sum- 
merhouse, the  more  attractive  it  will  prove.  The 
features  to  be  emphasized  in  a  garden  are  the  grass, 
shrubbery,  trees,  and  flowers  and  anything  wholly 
artificial  should  be  as  inconspicuous  as  possible. 

The  planting  of  trees  or  shrubs  or  the  placing  of 
fountains  along  a  walk  is  a  common  sight  but  there 
is  no  reason  for  it.  All  small  areas  containing  walks 
and  drives  should  be  planned  as  simply  as  possible. 
A  small  yard,  however,  may  contain  a  vase  or  two 
if  they  be  not  too  large. 

No  one  variety  of  flower  should  be  planted  in  the 
same  spot  year  after  year.  The  particular  plant 
food  which  that  plant  needs  will  be  all  taken  up 
after  the  second  year,  yet  some  other  flower  may 
thrive  well  there. 


Growing  Flowers  155 

Where  there  is  a  great  deal  of  white  and  a  liberal 
amount  of  green  foliage,  the  color  scheme  will  be 
safe,  whatever  the  mixture.  Feathery  foliage 
should  predominate  as  heavy  stiff  leaves  will  pre- 
sent a  more  or  less  dense  and  somber  effect. 

Where  a  mass  of  brilliant  red  is  desired  in  the 
garden,  nothing  will  be  more  effective  than  salvia, 
or  scarlet  sage. 

Plant  plenty  of  white  flowers  in  the  garden.  They 
are  not  only  beautiful  in  themselves  but  they  tend 
to  emphasize  the  color  of  the  other  flowers  near. 
No  other  one  color  aids  so  in  emphasizing  the 
color  scheme  in  the  garden. 

In  selecting  plants,  choose  them  for  their  hardiness 
rather  than  size.  Large  plants  often  have  a  forced 
growth,  but  if  tender,  they  will  not  survive  a  re- 
planting. Note  carefully  the  main  stem  of  a  plant 
rather  than  the  leaves. 

Flower  beds  will  not  be  neat  in  appearance  if  the 
sod  is  not  kept  nicely  edged.  Stray  blades  of  grass 
pushing  themselves  over  the  bed  presents  a  very 
ragged  and  unkept  condition. 

The  rearranging  of  flower  beds,  and  the  general  re- 
planning  of  the  garden  should  be  done  in  January, 


156  Growing  Flowers 

that  the  work  may  be  begun  just  as  soon  as  danger 
of  frost  is  over. 

In  planning  borders,  see  that  there  is  a  back- 
ground of  shrubs,  vine-covered  walls,  or  tall  plants, 
with  an  abundance  of  bright  colored  flowers  and 
plenty  of  foliage. 


Soil 


Pulverizing  the  soil  before  planting  seed  and  young 
plants  will  make  the  task  of  cultivating  much 
lighter,  as  well  as  benefiting  the  plants  materially 
from  the  start. 

Soil  containing  more  or  less  sand  will  grow  warm 
earlier  in  the  spring  than  soil  without  sand.  Sandy 
soil  is  also  easily  drained,  though  too  much  sand 
means  little  fertility. 

If  the  soil  sticks  together  when  rolled  into  a  ball 
by  the  hand,  it  is  too  wet  to  be  cultivated.  Soil 
should  never  be  plowed  or  harrowed  unless  it  is 
almost  dry,  otherwise  there  will  be  rough  lumps 
afterward. 

In  localities  where  the  soil  is  moist,  plants  that 
require  good  drainage  should  have  a  specially  raised 


Growing  Flowers  157 

bed  prepared.  Heavy  clay  soils  should  always 
have  particular  attention  paid  with  reference  to 
drainage  and  all  excess  water  should  be  well 
drained  off  before  plants  are  set  out. 

Sawdust  and  old  shavings  should  never  be  permitted 
to  lay  in  piles  around  the  garden.  They  become 
sour  and  will  have  a  bad  effect  on  plant  life,  as  well 
as  attract  some  kinds  of  worms. 

Unless  specially  prepared  soil  is  supplied  a  new 
garden  will  have  a  struggle  to  gain  a  foothold.  A 
piece  of  land  that  has  been  under  careful  cultivation 
for  two  or  three  years  will  yield  the  most  satisfactory 
result  when  it  comes  to  raising  flowers. 

When  the  garden  has  a  clay  soil  for  a  foundation, 
there  should  be  applied  a  mixture  of  ashes  and 
leaf-mold  or  sand  and  leaf-mold  to  offset  the 
clay.  Ashes  should  be  used  when  possible  as  sand 
tends  to  decrease  the  fertility  of  the  soil. 

Fertilization 

To  plant  flowers  and  not  properly  fertilize  them  is 
a  waste  not  only  of  good  seeds  and  plants  but  of  valu- 
able time.  A  little  fertilizer  will  go  a  long  way  if 


158  Growing  Flowers 

applied  in  time.  The  fertilizer  should  be  well 
worked  into  the  soil  before  planting,  whenever 
feasible,  but  adding  it  afterwards  will  give  very 
good  results.  Even  on  soil  originally  rich,  a  little 
fertilizer  should  be  added  once  a  year. 

Well-rotted  stable  manure  only  should  be  applied 
to  plants.  To  put  it  on  while  fresh  will  only  burn 
the  plants  and  they  may  never  really  survive  it. 

Barnyard  fertilizer  is  among  the  most  valuable  of 
fertilizers.  It  should  be  six  months  old  and  should 
be  well  worked  into  the  soil. 

A  little  lime-water  poured  on  soil  a  few  weeks 
before  planting  will  be  very  beneficial.  Limewater 
not  only  fertilizes  but  it  has  a  disastrous  effect 
on  cutworms  and  other  insects  which  harm  plants. 
Clay  and  humus  soils  particularly  need  lime. 

Ashes  from  hardwood  for  roses  is  advice  as  old  as 
it  is  good.  It  should  be  placed  where  the  roots 

can  reach  it. 

• 

Nitrate  of  soda  is  a  good  fertilizer  and  acts  quickly 
on  the  soil,  but  it  should  be  used  with  great  caution 
as  too  much  of  it  will  burn  a  plant  up.  A  teaspoon- 
ful  is  a  dose  for  a  good-sized  plant. 


Growing  Flowers  159 

House  plants  should  occasionally  be  watered  with 
water  to  which  has  been  added  a  tablespoonful  of 
ammonia  to  a  two-quart  measure  of  water.  This 
fertilizes  the  soil  and  kills  bugs.  Water  which  has 
been  used  for  washing  dishes  or  fabrics  will  answer 
as  well  as  fresh  water. 

There  is  nothing  belter  for  plants  than  rich,  greasy 
dish  water.  Be  careful  to  pour  it  on  the  soil  only 
for  it  will  not  improve  the  appearance  of  the  foliage. 

Bone  ground  to  meal  is  excellent  for  the  flowers. 
It  contains  lime  and  phosphate  and  an  ounce  will 
be  enough  for  four  or  five  square  feet  of  earth. 
The  phosphate  will  promote  both  flowering  and 
fruitfulness  of  the  plants,  hence  plenty  of  bone 
should  be  used  when  seed  is  to  be  saved. 

Dried  blood  from  cattle  is  a  nitrogenous  food  and 
will  cause  wonderful  growth  of  foliage  both  with  re- 
gard to  size  and  coloring. 

In  preparing  compost,  i.  e.,  in  rotting  stable 
manure,  sprinkle  a  little  finely  ground  raw  phos- 
phatic  rock  over  it  each  time  it  is  turned  over, 
which  should  be  twice  a  week  for  several  weeks, 
and  the  fertilizer  will  be  strengthened. 


160  Growing  Flowers 

A  good  proportion  of  the  constituents  of  fertilizer 
is  as  follows: 

Phosphoric  acid    8% 
Potash  8% 

Nitrogen  3% 

This  should  be  thoroughly  worked  into  the  soil 
for  a  depth  of  three  or  four  inches  and  should  be 
applied  just  previous  to  planting. 

Decaying  cabbage,  cauliflower,  and  brussels  sprouts 
make  a  good  fertilizer  for  flowers. 

Fertilizers  containing  nitrogen  are  beneficial  for  the 
growth  of  flowers.  Lack  of  nitrogen  will  produce 
faded  leaves,  small  in  size,  and  spindly  plants. 
The  dried  blood  of  cattle  and  sulphate  of  ammonia 
are  nitrogenous  fertilizers. 

Fertilizers  containing  a  large  percentage  of  phos- 
phate should  be  used  on  plants  when  superiority  in 
the  flowers  is  desired.  Basic  slag  and  crushed  bone 
are  phosphates  and  either  may  be  used  to  advan- 
tage. Two  ounces  of  bone  to  a  plot  containing 
eight  or  ten  square  feet  is  a  good  proportion ;  while 
twice  the  amount  of  basic  slag  should  be  used  for 
the  same  amount  of  space. 

Potash  in  various  forms  applied  to  the  roots  of 
plants  invigorates  and  strengthens  them.  Sulphate 


Growing  Flowers  161 

of  potash  and  muriate  of  potash  may  be  obtained 
at  any  florist's  and  at  seed  houses  and  most  of  the 
department  stores. 

Ashes  from  hardwood  contain  a  large  percentage 
of  potash  and  may  be  applied  at  any  season  of 
the  year,  though  it  is  better  not  to  put  them  on 
when  there  is  danger  of  the  roots  actually  getting 
chilled  from  having  the  earth  disturbed  near  them. 

Fertilizers  should  never  be  placed  immediately  on 
the  roots  of  a  plant,  but  just  beyond  the  tip  ends  of 
the  roots  where  in  their  own  time  the  roots  can  take 
up  the  nourishment.  To  place  it  directly  on  the 
roots  is  likely  to  burn  them. 

Liquid  fertilizer  is  excellent  for  applying  to  grow- 
ing plants.  This  may  be  home-made  with  most 
fertilizers  and  is  made  by  simply  mixing  the  fer- 
tilizer with  a  generous  supply  of  water.  In  apply- 
ing, dig  holes  near  the  plant  and  pour  the  liquid 
into  them.  It  will  penetrate  the  earth  in  good 
season.  It  should  be  applied  frequently  and 
should  be  somewhat  weaker  than  if  applied  only 
once. 

Sheep  manure  is  an  excellent  general  fertilizer. 
Manure  is  very  strong  and  should  seldom  be  used 


1 63  Growing  Flowers 

before  it  has  been  turned  to  compost.  Barnyard 
fertilizer  is  excellent  for  most  plants,  and  there  is  no 
danger  of  burning  plants  by  its  use  as  there  is 
from  using  stable  manure. 

All  debris,  or  waste  matter,  should  be  removed 
from  manure  before  it  is  applied  to  the  soil.  Sticks, 
stones,  and  other  trash  will  choke  the  young  plants 
and  the  growth  will  be  materially  retarded. 

Every  garden  should  be  well  fertilized  once  a  year, 
preferably  in  the  fall.  The  winter  snows  and  rains 
will  drench  it  and  take  the  substance  down  into 
the  earth,  where  it  will  lie  all  winter  and  be  in 
good  condition  for  the  spring. 

When  soil  is  poor  and  no  analysis  has  been  made 
to  determine  just  what  is  needed,  it  is  safe  to  use  a 
composition  of  8%  phosphoric  acid,  3%  nitrogen, 
and  8%  potash.  A  highly  recommended  propor- 
tion is  eight  pounds  to  the  square  rod. 

Ground  rock  phosphate  is  a  very  valuable  phos- 
phate fertilizer.  Sprinkled  over  compost  when  be- 
ing made,  it  will  help  to  keep  the  ammonia  in  the 
soil. 

Compost  is  simply  well-rotted  stable  manure.  To 
rot  the  manure,  it  should  be  piled  to  a  height  of 


Growing  Flowers  163 

four  or  five  feet  in  stacks  four  or  five  feet  square 
and  left  to  stand  for  several  days — ten  days  will  not 
be  too  long — after  having  dampened  it  thoroughly 
with  water.  It  should  be  turned  over  and  damp- 
ened several  times  at  intervals  of  a  week  or  more 
when  it  will  be  ready  for  use. 

Compost  should  be  well  worked  into  the  soil  to  a 
depth  of  several  inches  and  should  not  be  put  on  full 
strength  when  applying  to  young  and  tender  plants, 
but  should  be  mixed  with  sand  or  even  clay.  A 
phosphate  fertilizer,  such  as  phosphatic  rock  or 
crushed  bone,  may  be  mixed  with  it  to  excellent 
advantage. 

Barnyard  manure  is  excellent  when  a  fertilizer  is 
badly  needed  to  promote  rapid  growth,  as  it  may  be 
applied  directly  to  the  roots  or  may  be  placed  in 
the  hole  when  setting  out  plants. 

In  using  nitrate  of  soda,  never  apply  directly  to 
the  roots.  It  is  wonderfully  invigorating  but  will 
kill  tender  plants  if  too  much  is  used.  A  teaspoon- 
ful  is  a  dose  for  a  plant  which  attains  only  a  foot 
or  two  in  growth. 

Soil  that  is  continuously  damp  is  likely  to  become 
moldy  or  sour.  A  bit  of  lime  worked  into  the  soil 


164  Growing  Flowers 

will  destroy  the  mold  and  dry  out  the  earth  and 
there  is  no  danger  from  an  over-amount  being 
used.  No  planting  should  be  done  for  some  time 
after  the  lime  has  been  applied. 

Where  there  is  too  much  potash  in  the  soil,  or  a 
large  amount  of  humus,  an  application  of  lime  will 
be  most  beneficial.  It  counteracts  these  two  fer- 
tilizers and  moderates  the  soil. 

When  using  commercial  fertilizer,  follow  the  in- 
structions which  accompany  the  package.  They 
will  seldom  advise  the  use  of  too  small  an  amount 
but  the  reputation  of  the  fertilizer  is  at  stake  if 
they  recommend  more  than  is  necessary  and  the 
plant  is  burned  up. 

Nearly  all  the  States  in  the  Union  have  agricultural 
experiment  stations  where  samples  of  soil  may  be 
sent  to  be  analyzed  for  determining  just  what  fer- 
tilization is  needed.  There  will  be  no  charge  for 
the  analysis,  as  the  experiment  stations  are  estab- 
lished for  the  purpose  of  encouraging  vegetation. 
If  there  is  none  in  your  State,  a  neighboring  State 
will  probably  have  one. 

When  soil  has  been  over-fertilized  an  application 
of  lime  may  be  made  in  the  fall  and  the  effect 
desired  will  have  resulted  by  spring  planting  time. 


Growing  Flowers  165 

Soil  that  is  used  every  year  and  kept  more  or  less 
moist  should  have  a  dressing  of  lime  applied  occa- 
sionally. It  should  be  put  on  after  the  soil  has 
been  well  cultivated  and  should  be  worked  into 
the  soil  for  a  depth  of  several  inches.  The  fall 
is  the  best  time. 

Guano  makes  a  good  fertilizer  when  fertilization 
is  needed  for  growing  plants.  It  is  mild  yet  has  a 
very  good  effect.  Half  an  ounce  mixed  in  three 
quarts  of  water  and  poured  around  the  roots  of  a 
plant  will  prove  a  satisfactory  way  of  applying. r 

When  leafy  plants  have  stopped  blooming,  cut 
them  and  pile  up  the  leaves  to  rot  and  make 
humus.  Grass,  too,  makes  an  excellent  humus  but 
should  be  well  rotted.  Place  well  away  from  the 
garden  for  insects  are  likely  to  breed. 

The  three  principal  chemicals  that  plants  require 
are  nitrogen,  phosphate,  and  potash.  Nitrates  are 
the  energy  givers.  They  constitute  the  tonic  which 
gives  the  plants  an  appetite,  and  should  never  be 
given  alone  to  any  plant,  unless  to  counteract  the 
effect  of  foods  already  given.  Phosphoric  acid, 
which  produces  flowers,  is  really  petrified  bone  and 
is  supplied  by  the  excrement  of  vanished  races  of 


1 66  Growing  Flowers 

animals.  Potash,  which  makes  the  fruits,  is 
found  in  wood  ashes.  The  proper  proportion  of 
these  foods  to  apply  to  plants  is  2  parts  of  potash, 
3  parts  acid  phosphate,  and  5  parts  of  nitrate  of 
soda. 

In  applying  wood  ashes  to  the  garden  plants,  sift 
them  well  beforehand,  or  there  will  probably  be 
many  lumps  in  the  ash  soil  which  will  not  be  bene- 
ficial to  the  plants  and  may,  indeed/  be  detrimen- 
tal to  the  roots. 

Manure  should  never  be  applied  direct  to  the  roots 
of  plants  but  should  be  put  into  the  ground  at  a 
little  distance  that  the  roots  may  receive  the  sus- 
tenance through  other  soil  and  through  moisture, 
rather  than  direct.  Fresh  manure  will  burn  the 
roots  of  most  plants. 

When  bone  meal  is  used  as  a  fertilizer  it  should  be 
ground  very  fine.  Unless  it  is  ground  fine  it  will 
not  give  good  results  as  it  takes  too  long  for  the 
plant  to  absorb  the  food  in  it. 

When  digging  up  flowered-out  plants,  or  trimming 
the  branches,  or  pulling  up  vines,  make  sure  that 
they  are  not  covered  with  insects,  then  bury  them 


Growing  Flowers  167 

to  make  humus  in  the  ground.  Thus  a  plant  will 
live  on  and  on,  never  really  dying.  If  they  have 
insects  on  the  leaves  or  stems,  or  any  kind  of 
plant  disease,  they  should  at  once  be  burned  and 
not  allowed  to  come  in  contact  with  other  plants. 

After  applying  strong  fertilizers,  such  as  ammonia, 
magnesia,  iron,  nitrate  of  soda,  etc.,  an  application 
of  lime  should  be  made,  in  the  proportion  of  one 
pound  of  lime  to  every  ten  square  yards  of  earth. 

Manures  are  not  only  valuable  as  plant  food  but 
they  also  serve  to  temper  soil  which  is  not  suitable 
as  well  as  to  provide  warmth  when  used  as  a  winter 
covering  for  plants. 

When  the  soil  is  heavy  and  needs  lightening,  vegeta- 
ble refuse,  turf,  and  leaves  will  prove  satisfactory 
for  working  in  to  a  depth  of  a  foot  or  more.  Light 
soils  may  be  made  heavier  by  the  use  of  stable 
manure,  which  will  give  to  the  ground  more  ad- 
hesion and  body. 

Sheep  manure  and  barnyard  fertilizer  contain  a 
generous  supply  of  nitrogeneous  food  and  are  useful 
as  top  dressing  for  plants  which  are  already  set  out. 

Liquid  manure  is  a  food  in  such  form  that  it  can 
easily  be  assimilated  by  growing  plants.  Its  chief 


i68  Growing  Flowers 

value  lies  in  the  fact  that  it  stimulates  plants  which 
are  already  flowering,  with  no  disturbance  of  the 
root  growth,  which  so  often  happens  when  applying 
solid  fertilizer. 

Nitrogeneous  fertilizers  stimulate  leaves  and  stems 
of  plants  at  the  expense  of  the  flowers. 

A  liberal  supply  of  potash  in  the  soil  will  increase 
the  quality  and  perfume  of  flowers.  This  fertilizer 
is  much  used  by  florists  producing  blossoms  for 
perfumes. 

In  watering  trees,  shrubs,  and  flower  beds,  the 
earth  should  first  be  loosened  that  the  water  may 
readily  soak  into  the  ground.  To  drive  holes  into 
the  earth  by  means  of  a  large  stick  will  aid  in  the 
loosening  process.  The  nozzle  should  be  taken 
off  the  hose  and  the  water  applied  to  the  holes. 

Trees  and  shrubs  should  be  washed  off  by  the  use 
of  the  hose  once  or  twice  a  week  to  give  the  leaves  a 
breathing  chance.  This  watering  will  also  aid  in 
keeping  insects  away,  though  if  they  have  a  good 
start  something  more  drastic  than  water  should  be 
used. 

A  wire  fence  or  metal  trellis  on  which  to  train  vines 
will  prove  less  expensive  in  the  long  run  than 


Growing  Flowers  169 

wooden  trellises.  Wooden  trellises  are  splendid 
for  a  time  but  it  will  not  be  many  seasons  before 
the  ends  in  the  ground  rot  off,  and  when  perennials 
have  had  full  sway  for  a  couple  of  seasons  it  will 
be  very  disastrous  to  disturb  them  in  order  to  put 
up  a  new  trellis. 

Often  there  is  doubt  in  the  mind  of  amateur 
gardeners  as  to  what  quantity  oj  fertilizer  should  be 
used.  While  there  can  be  no  fixed  and  definite 
rule,  for  the  reason  that  everything  depends  upon 
the  condition  of  the  soil  before  fertilization  is 
started,  the  following  table  will  prove  reliable  when 
soil  is  lacking  in  any  one  particular: 

Per  sq.  yd.    When  to  apply  Remarks 

Sulphate  of  Ammonia  ^  oz.  Spring  %  oz.  may  be 

mixed  with  I 
gal.  of  water 

Nitrate  of  Soda  %  oz.  During  growth  Same  quantity 

of  plants  if  mixed  with 

water 

Sulphate  of  Magnesia     tf  oz.      Spring 

Sulphate  of  Iron  %  oz.  Spring  Same  quantity 

to  2  gal.  of 
water 

Guano  I  oz.  Spring  or  sum-  %  oz.  to  gal.  of 

mer  water 

Dried  Blood  2  oz.  Spring  I  oz.  to  gal.  of 

water  (in- 
stead of  am- 
monia) 


170 


Growing  Flowers 


Remarks 


y£  oz. 

Spring 

^2  oz.  to  gal.  of 

water 

2  OZ. 

Autumn 

Used     in     con- 

nection   with 

4  oz. 
X  oz. 

Autumn 
Spring  or 

nitrogen    and 
potash 
(Used  instead  of 
bone) 

autumn 

Per  sq.  yd.    When  to  apply 
Nitrate  of  Potash 

Crushed  Bone  or 
Bone  Meal 

Basic  Slag 
Kainite 


A  thin  covering  of  wood  ashes  spread  over  the 
lawn  just  before  watering  it  will  prove  to  be  good 
food  for  the  grass. 

Grass  seed  is  usually  planted  in  the  spring,  but  if 
it  is  planted  in  the  early  fall,  just  as  soon  as  the 
weather  is  cool  enough  to  insure  that  the  tender 
blades  will  not  become  parched  from  the  sun,  it 
will  have  a  good  start  before  winter  comes  and  will 
make  a  beautiful  green  covering  in  the  spring.  It 
should  be  watered  frequently  after  the  first  blades 
have  pushed  their  way  through  the  earth's  sur- 
face, and  a  very  fine  sprinkling  a  week  or  so  after 
planting  will  aid  germination.  When  watering  is 
once  started  it  should  be  kept  up  nightly. 

When  there  is  an  abundance  of  moss  on  the  lawn, 
the  soil  is  in  need  of  fertilization  or  drainage.  The 
moss  should  be  raked  off  and  the  spots  where  it 


Growing  Flowers  171 

has  grown  should  be  covered  with  sulphate  of  iron, 
about  a  quarter  of  an  ounce  to  each  square  yard. 
Next  a  covering  of  lime  and  wood  ashes  should  be 
applied  and  left  to  stand  until  the  rain  or  water 
from  the  hose  washes  it  in. 

When  it  is  desired  to  produce  a  new  lawn  quickly, 
sow  oats  with  the  grass  seed.  The  oats  will  appear 
above  the  surface  in  eight  or  ten  days.  The  lawn 
should  be  kept  cut  closely  to  make  the  plants 
stool  out  well.  The  oats  die  down  in  the  fall  and 
the  roots  and  crown  will  decay  and  furnish  plant 
food  to  the  grass. 

When  remaking  an  old  lawn,  the  old  sod  should 
be  well  harrowed  and  all  the  old  grass  roots  and 
tops  removed,  and  the  soil  treated  as  if  it  were 
entirely  new  ground.  The  old  grass  and  roots  may 
be  burned  and  returned  to  the  earth  to  help  feed 
the  new  grass  as  it  appears. 

Bare  patches  on  the  lawn  can  only  be  brought  into 
good  condition  by  digging  up  the  surface  and  re- 
seeding.  Extra  fertilizer  should  be  worked  into 
the  soil  before  the  seed  is  sown  and  a  fine  sprink- 
ling should  be  given.  These  patches  are  very  un- 
sightly and  will  spoil  the  appearance  of  what  would 
otherwise  be  a  beautiful  lawn. 


172  Growing  Flowers 

When  cutting  and  raking  the  grass,  save  the  clip- 
pings. They  will  make  excellent  humus  and  no 
commercial  fertilizer  need  be  bought  for  the  sake 
of  obtaining  humus. 

A  layer  of  manure  applied  to  the  lawn  in  the  fall, 
leaving  it  on  all  winter,  will  insure  bright,  green 
grass  the  following  spring.  A  covering  of  wood 
ashes  or  crushed  bone  will  also  be  beneficial  and 
if  manure  is  alternated  each  season  with  one  of  the 
last  two  mentioned,  it  will  be  even  better. 

Seed 

Deal  only  with  a  reliable  seedsman.  A  seed  house 
which  has  built  up  a  reputation  on  the  produce 
from  its  seed  is  not  going  to  keep  in  stock  old  seed 
which  will  tend  to  endanger  its  reputation.  It  pays 
to  purchase  the  best  of  seed. 

To  have  the  seed  bed  well  prepared  before  the  seed 
is  planted  will  give  the  young  plants  the  very  best 
start.  If  the  soil  must  be  fertilized  after  the  growth 
has  started,  the  plants  will  receive  a  setback  by 
the  change  in  soil.  They  should  be  permitted  to 
grow  undisturbed  until  leaves  have  formed. 

The  depth  to  which  seeds  are  planted  should  be 
determined  by  the  size  of  the  seed.  Very  fine  seed 


Growing  Flowers  173 

often  is  not  covered  at  all,  but  scattered  lightly 
over  the  surface  of  the  earth.  One  very  good 
way  of  planting  fine  seed  is  to  put  the  seed  in  a 
sifter  with  four  times  as  much  very  fine  soil  as  seed 
and  sift  seed  and  soil  over  the  spot  where  the 
plants  are  to  grow. 

The  ground  should  be  thoroughly  warm  when  plant- 
ing  seed  for  producing  seed  plants.  If  the  ground  is 
at  all  chilled,  the  seed  produced  from  the  plants 
being  started  will  not  yield  a  good  crop  of  flowers. 

Seed  should  be  well  watered  immediately  after 
planting.  A  very  fine  nozzle  or  a  bulb  syringe 
should  be  used  in  order  not  to  wash  up  the  small 
seed. 

Growing  plants  for  seed  is  an  art.  Flowers  should 
never  be  considered,  but  every  flower  produced 
looked  at  with  a  view  to  the  seed.  Only  a  few 
flowers  should  be  allowed  to  mature  on  each  plant 
so  that  the  nourishment  may  be  conserved.  A 
plant  bearing  many  blossoms  will  produce  poor  seed. 

Seeds  require  warmth,  moisture,  and  air  in  order 
to  germinate. 

Seed  should  be  planted  in  soil  with  good  drainage. 
If  too  much  moisture  is  allowed  seed,  it  will  rot 


174  Growing  Flowers 

before  it  can  germinate.  In  planting  seed  in  the 
garden,  the  earth  of  the  seed  bed  should  be  piled 
up  higher  than  the  surrounding  surface. 

All  stones  and  trash  should  be  sifted  out  of  the  soil 
before  seed  is  planted.  There  is  no  nourishment 
in  either.  Very  fine  soil  is  conducive  to  ready 
germination. 

In  order  to  kill  the  seed  of  weeds  in  soil  which  is  to 
be  used  for  the  seed  bed,  place  the  soil  in  a  large  pan 
and  bake  in  the  oven  or  at  the  bottom  of  the  fur- 
nace for  a  few  hours.  There  will  then  be  no  danger 
of  the  seed  of  weeds  crowding  the  plant  seed. 

In  preparing  large  beds  for  seed,  plow  thoroughly 
and  rake  carefully.  Plowing  up  the  land  four  or 
five  times  will  insure  loose  soil  and  a  quick  growth 
of  plants. 

The  seed  boxes  or  beds  should  be  kept  slightly  moist, 
not  wet.  If  the  soil  is  dry  the  seed  cannot  germi- 
nate but  if  really  wet,  the  seed  will  rot  before  ger- 
mination can  take  place.  When  there  are  dry 
spots  these  spots  should  be  watered,  but  not  the 
surrounding  damp  soil 

Young  plants  will  be  more  uniform  in  size  and 
shape  if  seed  is  planted  in  rows  and  it  will  be  much 


Growing  Flowers  175 

easier  to  thin  the  plants  with  regularity  than  if 
they  come  up  in  spots. 

When  planting  seed  in  boxes  indoors,  the  box 
should  be  set  near  a  window  through  which  the 
sun  shines.  The  box  should  be  turned  around 
every  other  day  that  the  sun  may  fall  on  all  parts 
of  the  soil  alike. 

The  depth  at  which  seed  is  sown  should  be  greater 
later  in  the  season  than  early  in  the  spring,  as  the 
ground  is  warm  to  quite  a  depth  and  the  tempera- 
ture of  the  soil  is  more  even  farther  down. 

Purchase  seed  in  good  season.  If  one  waits  until 
time  to  plant,  the  work  will  be  done  hurriedly  and 
the  result  will  be  unsatisfactory.  When  the  seed 
is  at  hand,  the  ground  may  be  prepared  and  the 
seed  planted  at  the  most  advantageous  moment 
with  regard  to  climatic  conditions. 

When  preparing  the  soil  for  the  seed  bed,  sift  it 
until  very  fine,  having  removed  all  debris,  and 
then  press  it  down  flat  with  a  board.  After  sowing 
the  seed,  press  the  soil  down  again,  and  this  will 
be  sufficient  covering  for  very  tiny  seed. 

When  raising  seeds,  never  keep  them  over  season 
after  season.  A  great  many  seeds  will  not  germinate 


176  Growing  Flowers 

at  all  after  a  year  and  very  few  will  produce  good 
plants. 

A  seed  drill  will  be  most  convenient  in  planting 
seeds  on  a  large  parcel  of  ground.  The  use  of  this 
implement  is  not  only  more  convenient,  but  the 
seed  will  be  more  regular. 

Slightly  damp  soil  is  preferable  for  seed  planting 
than  soil  which  is  really  wet,  or  soil  which  is  dry.  A 
good  test  is  to  take  a  bit  of  soil  into  the  hand  and 
squeeze  it.  If  the  impression  of  the  hand  is  on 
the  soil  when  released  it  is  too  wet,  but  if  the  earth 
crumbles,  it  is  in  excellent  condition  for  seed 
sowing.  There  is  too  little  air  in  really  wet  soil, 
and  seeds  require  air  as  well  as  heat  and  moisture 
in  order  to  germinate. 


The  majority  of  seed  will  germinate  successfully 
under  an  air  temperature  of  60°  Fahrenheit  and  a 
soil  temperature  of  from  6f  to  ?o°.  The  soil  tem- 
perature should  always  be  a  few  degrees  higher 
than  the  temperature  of  the  surrounding  air. 

In  planting  seed  on  a  hot  summer  day,  small  seeds 
should  be  covered  with  a  board  for  the  first  few 
days  after  planting  in  order  that  they  may  be  kept 
damp  enough  to  germinate,  otherwise  the  heat  will 


Growing  Flowers  177 

dry  them  up,  blow  the  sand  off,  and  scatter  them 
in  every  direction. 

A  little  system  in  planting  flowers  and  seed  will 
aid  greatly  the  following  season.  Keep  a  record 
book  of  the  date  when  seeds  are  planted,  the  date 
when  they  first  appear  above  ground,  the  care 
given  the  young  plants,  etc.  Jot  down  the  age  of 
perennials  when  purchased,  the  care  given,  and 
any  detail  which  will  be  useful  in  planting  again. 
The  garden  will  be  ever  so  much  more  interesting 
when  such  personal  care  is  given  it  and  the  flowers 
will  seem  almost  to  have  personalities. 

When  several  different  kinds  of  seeds  are  planted 
in  one  flat,  plant  only  those  of  the  same  size,  other- 
wise they  cannot  be  covered  or  watered  properly. 

All  seed  with  thick  skins  and  all  large  seed  with 
even  thin  skins  should  be  soaked  over  night  in  cold 
water  or  for  several  hours  in  warm  water,  not  hot, 
before  planting.  This  loosens  the  skin,  makes  it 
shrink,  and  prepares  the  seed  for  quick  germination. 
No  seed  will  be  harmed  by  soaking  if  not  left  in  the 
water  too  long. 

When  the  flats  have  been  prepared  for  seed,  fur- 
rows should  be  made  and  the  seed  planted  at  once 


178  Growing  Flowers 

before  the  soil  has  dried  out,  or  germination  will 
be  retarded. 

Fresh  air  should  be  supplied  to  the  seed  boxes  daily. 
To  open  a  window  in  an  adjoining  room  will  give 
the  necessary  ventilation  without  danger  of  drafts. 
A  draft  is  hard  on  young  plants  and  even  before 
the  seeds  are  up  they  are  endangered  by  a  chilling 
of  the  temperature  of  both  soil  and  air. 

Seed  boxes  should  not  be  placed  in  the  sunlight 
for  two  or  three  days  after  the  seed  is  planted. 
Moisture  is  the  most  important  factor  for  the  first 
period. 

The  proper  way  to  harrow  a  seed  bed  is  to  run  the 
harrow,  rake,  or  fork  in  different  directions,  the 
second  harrowing  at  right  angles  to  the  first,  while 
the  surface  of  the  soil  should  be  pulverized  to  a 
depth  of  several  inches. 

In  making  wooden  boxes  or  flats  in  which  to  plant 
seed,  do  not  fail  to  leave  a  little  crack  all  around  the 
edge  of  the  bottom  of  the  box,  otherwise  holes  will 
have  to  be  bored  to  make  sure  that  good  drainage 
will  be  supplied. 

A  very  safe  way  of  watering  seed  in  flats,  boxes, 
etc.,  is  to  place  the  receptacle  in  a  tub  of  water, 


Growing  Flowers  179 

letting  it  stand  just  long  enough  for  the  moisture 
to  penetrate  all  parts  of  the  soil.  The  water 
should^  not  cover  the  flat,  or  box,  or  the  seed  will 
be  washed  away  in  a  flood. 

Do  not  sow  seed  too  thickly.  The  majority  of  seeds 
will  germinate  if  purchased  from  a  reliable  seed 
house,  and  to  sow  a  great  many  more  than  is 
desired  to  germinate  will  be  a  fearful  waste.  A 
few  in  excess  of  the  seedlings  desired  should  be 
sown  in  case  some  do  not  germinate,  but  when 
young  plants  come  up  too  thick,  they  will  only 
have  to  be  thinned  out  and  thrown  away. 

Egg  shells  make  excellent  little  cups  for  planting 
seeds  which  are  not  to  be  sown  out  of  doors.  When 
the  seeds  germinate  and  the  seedlings  have  grown 
two  or  three  leaves,  eggshell  and  plant  should  be 
set  where  the  plant  is  to  remain.  This  prevents 
the  roots  being  disturbed  and  growth  checked  and 
the  shells  furnish  food  to  the  soil  for  the  plant  a 
little  later. 

Seeds  of  most  plants  are  ready  to  be  gathered  when 
the  seedpods  burst.  The  seed  should  be  placed  in 
the  sunlight  for  a  day  or  two,  or  in  some  dry  place 
indoors,  preferably  behind  glass  through  which  the 


i8o  Growing  Flowers 

sun  will  shine,  to  dry  out  thoroughly  before  storing 
for  the  next  season's  use. 

There  is  now  on  sale  in  the  markets  seed  placed 
inside  tape.  This  tape  is  to  be  planted  in  furrows, 
thus  doing  away  with  the  tediousness  of  seed 
sowing  and  also  eliminating  much  waste  of  seed. 
Its  success  will  depend  entirely  upon  the  quality 
of  seed  used.  It  is  worth  trying  out  at  any  rate. 

Seeds  planted  in  boxes  indoors  do  not  need  to  be 
set  at  so  great  a  depth  as  those  planted  out  of  doors. 
The  temperature  is  warmer  indoors  and  there  is 
not  so  much  danger  of  the  seed  becoming  damp- 
ened and  chilled. 

When  seeds  are  planted  broadcast,  thinning  must 
always  be  generously  indulged  in,  otherwise  the 
plants  will  never  attain  their  full  growth  and 
development  and  the  flowers  will  be  dwarfed  and 
sickly  in  appearance. 

Transplanting  and  Thinning 

Most  plants  that  can  stand  transplanting  are  really 
benefited  by  it  as  transplanting  has  a  tendency  to 
make  the  plants  stocky  and  strong,  and  it  also 
affords  opportunity  for  developing  the  root  system. 


Growing  Flowers  181 

Before  taking  up  a  plant  which  is  to  be  transplanted 
thoroughly  water  the  soil  surrounding  it  that  the 
earth  may  the  more  readily  adhere  to  the  roots. 
When  plants  are  not  set  in  the  soil  at  once  after 
taking  up,  the  roots  and  leaves  should  be  moistened 
and  the  plants  set  in  a  moist  place  until  time  to 
plant. 

When  plants  come  from  a  distance  and  the  soil 
adhering  to  the  roots  is  hard  and  dry,  or  when  the 
earth  has  fallen  away,  place  the  plants  in  a  tub  of 
water,  enough  to  cover  the  whole  root  system,  and 
let  stand  for  several  hours  before  planting.  It  is 
best  to  also  pour  water  into  the  hole  before  setting 
the  plant  in  place.  A  good  watering  should  also 
be  given  when  three  fourths  of  the  soil  has  been 
placed  around  the  plant. 

In  lifting  young  plants  for  transplanting,  always 
use  a  trowel  with  a  curved  blade.  A  fork  will  cause 
the  earth  to  fall  apart  and  a  level  trowel  will  dis- 
turb the  earth  and  to  some  extent  unsettle  the 
roots. 

Before  transplanting  young  plants  from  the  green- 
house or  cold  frame  to  the  open  ground,  harden  them 
by  giving  them  first  a  little  fresh  air,  gradually 


1 82  Growing  Flowers 

increasing  the  amount  each  day,  until  they  are 
entirely  exposed.  If  plants  are  hardened  in  this 
manner,  there  will  be  little  danger  of  their  dying 
after  having  been  transplanted.  The  plants  will 
require  less  moisture  as  they  grow  older,  hence  the 
evaporation  will  not  be  harmful. 

In  sections  of  the  country  which  have  short 
seasons,  plants  for  the  open  ground  which  will  not 
stand  transplanting  may  be  started  in  large  card- 
board boxes,  such  as  are  used  for  suits  of  clothes. 
When  the  plants  have  grown  to  the  required  height 
and  the  time  is  ripe  for  plants  to  flourish  in  the 
out  of  doors,  box  and  plants  should  be  set  in 
the  ground,  taking  care  not  to  shake  the  earth  and 
unsettle  the  roots.  The  box  will  soon  rot  and  will 
do  no  harm  to  the  roots. 

There  can  be  purchased  small  paper  cups  in 
which  to  plant  seeds  which  are  later  to  be  transferred 
to  the  garden.  Two  or  three  seeds  at  least  should  be 
planted  in  each  cup  to  be  sure  that  cup  space  is  not 
wasted  by  non-maturing  seed.  The  cup  should  be 
planted  in  the  ground  and  just  before  setting  in  the 
earth  should  be  slit  down  the  side  to  permit  the 
roots  to  spread.  The  cup  will  soon  disintegrate 
and  become  part  of  the  soil. 


Growing  Flowers  183 

When  transplanting  is  being  done,  the  soil  of  the 
garden  bed  should  be  well  watered  before  the  plants 
are  set  in  it.  If  the  earth  does  not  adhere  to  the 
roots  of  the  plants,  the  soil  should  be  very  wet, 
and  dry  earth  may  be  placed  on  the  surface  after 
the  plant  has  been  firmly  imbedded.  The  dry 
earth  will  give  firmness  and  help  to  keep  the  plant 
in  position. 

Always  before  transplanting,  the  soil  should  be 
well  fertilized  and  cultivated.  If  the  soil  is  sifted, 
so  much  the  better.  Young  roots  are  tender  and 
will  find  difficulty  in  forcing  themselves  through 
hard  lumps  of  earth. 

In  transplanting  large  plants,  be  sure  to  set  them 
deeply  enough  into  the  earth,  water  the  roots  well, 
and  press  the  soil  down  firmly  with  the  foot  after 
the  plant  is  in  position.  To  use  a  hoe  may  cause 
a  bruise  or  break  from  which  the  plant  may  never 
recover. 

Plants  which  are  to  stand  a  distance  from  each 
other  should  be  fertilized  independently.  Too 
heavy  fertilization  may  burn  up  the  plant  but  a 
safe  fertilizer  into  which  to  dip  the  roots  of  plants 
being  transplanted  consists  of  a  mixture  of  cow  ma- 
nure, water,  and  clay.  The  roots  should  be  dipped 


1 84  Growing  Flowers 

into  this  and  a  little  of  the  mixture  also  poured 
into  the  hole  into  which  the  plant  is  to  be  set. 

The  time  for  transplanting  depends  upon  both 
the  temperature  and  the  condition  of  the  plant. 
No  plant  which  has  been  grown  in  a  hothouse  or 
under  glass  should  be  transferred  to  the  garden 
until  all  frost  is  out  of  the  earth.  If  a  plant  is 
spindly  and  has  a  yellow  tint  to  the  leaves,  trans- 
planting often  will  benefit  it,  for  its  appearance  will 
indicate  that  it  needs  more  nourishment. 

No  plant  should  be  transplanted  until  at  least  two 
leaves  are  well  formed,  but  as  a  rule  two  leaves  are 
sufficient.  When  transplanting  plants  which  have 
already  a  number  of  leaves,  the  larger  leaves  should 
be  pinched  off  to  give  the  young  ones  a  chance  to 
grow.  They  will  in  time  be  stronger  and  better 
leaves  than  the  large  ones  which  have  grown  before 
transplanting. 

Transplanting  should  not  be  done  during  the  heat 
of  the  day.  The  sun,  and  even  the  hot  atmosphere, 
is  likely  to  parch  the  plant  and  rob  it  of  moisture 
and  it  will  receive  a  decided  setback.  During 
the  late  afternoon,  or  even  in  the  early  evening, 
is  the  best  time  for  transplanting. 


Growing  Flowers  185 

When  thinning  young  plants,  do  so  without  regard 
to  the  size  of  the  plants.  Small  plants  will  soon 
attain  their  growth  if  plenty  of  room  is  given  and 
cultivation  started.  The  tendency  in  thinning 
usually  is  to  retain  the  largest  plants,  discarding 
the  smaller  ones,  but  this  should  not  be  done  when 
it  will  leave  bunches  of  plants,  otherwise  the  large 
ones  will  soon  be  outstripped  by  the  young  ones 
which  have  been  given  their  chance. 

The  amount  of  space  to  be  given  each  plant 
should  be  determined  by  the  height  to  which  the 
plant  grows  and  whether  or  not  it  is  a  bunchy 
plant.  The  roots  of  tall  plants,  as  a  rule,  grow 
downward  into  the  earth,  instead  of  branching 
out  near  the  surface,  hence  they  do  not  require  as 
great  a  distance  in  proportion  as  a  plant  the  roots 
of  which  spread  out.  Keep  in  mind  both  the  tend- 
ency of  the  roots  and  the  branches  when  the  first 
thinning  is  done. 


In  transplanting  young  plants  to  the  open  ground, 
great  precaution  should  be  exercised  with  regard 
to  the  roots.  If  they  are  bruised  it  will  take  some 
time  for  them  to  heal  before  they  will  begin  to 
grow  and  furnish  nourishment  to  the  plant. 


1 86  Growing  Flowers 

When  young  plants  are  being  transplanted  from 
the  hotbed  to  the  open  ground,  or  to  pots,  it  should  be 
remembered  to  set  them  a  trifle  deeper  than  they 
were  growing  previously  to  transplanting.  The 
upheaval  of  the  plant  is  hard  on  the  roots  and 
they  will  require  an  extra  amount  of  earth  to  off- 
set the  disadvantage  of  having  to  be  replanted. 

Transplanting  may  be  done  to  great  advantage 
after  a  rain  on  a  mild  day.  The  plants  should  not 
be  taken  from  their  first  bed  if  the  air  is  chilly. 
It  is  a  good  plan  to  have  the  garden  all  ready  and 
wait  for  a  light  shower.  , 

In  transplanting  very  delicate  young  plants,  they 
should  first  be  thinned,  in  order  that  a  piece  of 
earth  may  be  removed  with  each  plant.  This  will 
prevent  the  shock  to  the  plant's  system  and  it 
will  sooner  regain  its  strength  and  the  difference  in 
growth  between  it  and  one  which  has  had  no  earth 
removed  with  it  will  be  very  noticeable. 

Young  and  tender  plants  should  be  protected  from 
the  strong  rays  of  the  sun  for  a  day  or  two  after  being 
transplanted.  Stakes  driven  in  the  ground  at 
each  end  of  the  bed  and  a  board  leaned  on  them 
slantingly  will  afford  sufficient  protection.  They 
will  thus  get  plenty  of  air  and  warmth  of  atmos- 


Growing  Flowers  187 

phere  without  having  the  sun  streaming  on  them 
and  perhaps  parching  the  leaves. 


Cultivation 

Some  of  the  benefits  derived  from  cultivation: 

It  destroys  weeds  which  eat  up  the  plant  food 
in  the  earth. 

It  breaks  up  the  soil  and  gives  the  roots  a  chance 
to  push  through  without  strain  in  their  search  for 
food. 

It  forms  a  dust  mulch  and  prevents  the  evapora- 
tion of  moisture. 

It  increases  the  amount  of  plant  food  and  makes 
the  food  more  available  to  the  plants. 

It  warms  the  soil  and  permits  more  air  to  reach 
the  roots. 

It  adds  humus  to  the  soil  by  plowing  under  the 
manure  or  any  grass  or  other  vegetation  growing 
in  the  soil. 

So  do  not  neglect  to  cultivate.  One  or  all  of 
these  benefits  may  be  accorded  to  each  plant. 

Once  a  week  is  not  too  often  to  cultivate  the  garden. 
A  garden  should  be  cultivated  after  each  rain  or 
after  having  been  watered,  never  just  before  water- 
ing, or  the  water  will  cause  lumps  to  form. 


1 88  Growing  Flowers 

Cultivation  oj  perennials  should  not  be  given  too 
early  in  the  spring  or  the  young  roots,  just  getting 
a  start,  may  be  injured.  The  latter  part  of  April 
or  the  first  of  May  will  be  time  enough  for  this  work 
as  before  that  time  the  conservation  of  moisture 
is  not  necessary  nor  have  the  roots  grown  enough 
to  be  crowded. 

In  a  large  garden,  it  is  necessary  to  mark  the 
spots  where  late  perennials  are  to  appear,  otherwise 
many  a  good  plant  may  be  lost  from  careless  dig- 
ging when  planting  annuals.  This  may  be  done 
either  by  iron  rods  or  wooden  poles,  or  an  accurate 
plan  of  the  garden  on  paper  will  serve  for  the  care- 
ful planter  who  knows  his  garden  well. 

In  dry  weather  an  extra  amount  of  cultivation 
should  be  given.  Cultivation  aids  when  there  is 
little  water,  by  forming  a  dust  mulch  over  the  sur- 
face, and  by  permitting  air  to  enter. 

The  best  time  of  day  for  work  in  the  flower  garden 
is  early  in  the  morning  before  the  dew  has  evapo- 
rated. The  flowers  are  fresh,  the  air  is  sweet  and 
invigorating,  and  the  habit  of  working  in  the  garden 
early  will  soon  invigorate  the  human  system. 

Remember  that  cultivation  is  the  life  of  flowers. 
Even  surface  cultivation  will  form  a  good  dust 


Growing  Flowers  189 

mulch  and  this  mulch  will  help  in  conserving 
moisture. 

The  back  often  aches  from  hoeing  not  because  the 
work  was  long  or  arduous  but  because  the  hoe  blade 
was  not  set  at  the  right  angle.  If  hoeing  is  uncom- 
fortable, reset  the  blade  until  it  can  be  used  with 
no  discomfort. 

Growing  plants  should  not  be  neglected  merely 
because  they  seem  to  be  doing  well.  They  will  not 
keep  on  doing  well  unless  cultivation  is  given  and 
the  soil  contains  enough  plant  food  to  nourish 
them.  Cultivation  should  not,  however,  be  car- 
ried to  extremes.  To  constantly  dig  around  a 
plant  will  not  be  beneficial. 

Cultivation  of  the  soil  conserves  moisture,  without 
which  plants  will  not  flourish.  Even  though  they 
may  grow,  the  leaves  will  be  poor  and  the  flowers 
can  never  reach  their  best  development. 

Cultivation  is  of  as  much  importance  as  fertili- 
zation, perhaps  more.  Plants  will  not  flourish  if 
they  are  set  in  the  ground  and  forgotten,  while 
frequent  cultivation  will  often  offset  the  disadvan- 
tage of  poor  soil. 


190  Growing  Flowers 

During  hot  dry  weather,  the  surface  of  the  earth 
only  should  be  cultivated.  To  stir  up  the  earth  to  a 
depth  of  more  than  a  couple  of  inches  will  only 
bring  to  the  hot  dry  air  the  moist  soil  below  the 
surface,  which  will  very  soon  become  dry.  The 
surface  cultivation  will  prevent  the  escape  of  the 
moisture  in  the  earth  below. 

Cultivation  should  not  be  given  while  the  earth  is 
very  wet.  When  wet  earth  is  stirred  up  and  left  to 
dry,  hard  lumps  will  form  which  exclude  air  and 
through  which  tender  roots  cannot  force  their  way. 
When  a  handful  of  earth  will  crumble  readily 
between  the  fingers,  it  is  in  proper  condition  for 
cultivation. 

Small  plants  should  always  be  cultivated  with  a 
fork,  rather  than  with  a  hoe.  The  hoe  will  be 
difficult  to  use  in  cultivating  close  to  the  plant, 
while  a  fork  will  dig  all  around  without  danger  of 
injury  to  the  plant  or  of  chopping  off  the  roots. 

Weeds 

Weeding  should  be  done  just  as  soon  as  the  weeds 
start,  otherwise  they  will  in  a  short  while  eat  up 
a  great  deal  of  the  plant  food  which  the  flowers 
need. 


Growing  Flowers  191 

When  dandelions  are  in  the  garden,  it  will  do  no 
good  to  cut  off  the  tops.  The  roots  will  flourish 
and  send  up  strong  growth.  A  drop  of  sulphuric 
acid  applied  to  the  heart  of  each  plant  will  kill 
root  as  well  as  stem. 

The  deadly  nightshade,  or  atropa,  grows  in  waste 
places,  often  among  stones,  and  is  very  poisonous. 
In  destroying,  it  should  be  dug  up  and  burned,  and 
should  be  handled  only  with  gloves  on,  as  all  parts 
of  the  plant  are  poisonous.  It  is  of  no  value  as  a 
decoration. 

When  weeds  and  grass  are  growing  in  inaccessible 
places,  make  a  solution  of  a  teacupful  of  common 
baking  soda  and  a  gallon  of  boiling  water  and  pour 
on  them.  This  will  kill  them,  roots  and  tops. 

The  wild  carrot,  or  Queen  Anne's  lace,  is  a  nui- 
sance, and  is  difficult  to  get  rid  of.  Where  there  is 
a  very  large  patch,  the  land  should  be  plowed  for 
several  seasons  before  using,  and  all  roots  picked 
up  and  burned.  A  solution  of  baking  soda  in 
hot  water  will  kill  it  when  only  a  small  amount 
is  to  be  eradicated.  Its  growth  indicates  lack  of 
fertility  of  soil. 

Chicory,  which  is  usually  termed  a  weed,  bears 
handsome  blue  flowers,  and  is  a  welcome  addition 


192  Growing  Flowers 

to  a  garden  lacking  blue  color.     It  requires  a  deep, 
rich  loam  which  has  very  little  clay  or  sand  in  it. 

The  bitterweed,  also  called  ragweed,  should  be 
eradicated  from  every  garden.  To  it  has  been  laid 
the  cause  of  hay  fever,  and  it  is  not  desirable  for 
any  purpose.  The  flowers  are  green  and  unattrac- 
tive, and  the  stem  is  coarse  and  hairy. 

Salt  sprinkled  on  the  garden  walk  will  keep  weeds 
down. 

Bicarbonate  of  soda  dissolved  in  hot  water  will 
be  almost  instant  death  to  grass  and  weeds  which 
insist  upon  growing  in  spots  where  they  are  hard 
to  reach  and  eradicate. 

Do  not  let  dandelions  get  a  start.  They  are  very 
difficult  to  get  rid  of  when  growing  profusely  and 
it  takes  but  a  season  to  start  profuse  growth. 
Concentrated  lye  diluted  with  water  will  kill  the 
roots  but  it  will  also  kill  all  other  vegetation  with 
which  it  comes  in  contact  and  it  is  poisonous  to 
human  beings  as  well  and  should  be  kept  well  out 
of  the  reach  of  children,  and  animals  also. 

A  pinch  of  dry  table  salt  applied  to  the  crowns 
of  plantains  will  kill  the  plants  within  a  few  days. 


Growing  Flowers  193 

Strong  salty  water  may  be  used  but  it  may  take 
several  applications,  and  also  care  should  be  taken 
that  it  does  not  spread  to  other  nearby  plants. 


Watering 

When  watering  flowers,  water  them  thoroughly. 
Merely  to  sprinkle  water  over  the  surface  of  the 
earth  will  do  little  good.  Water  should  penetrate 
to  the  roots  in  order  that  it  may  be  taken  up  by 
them  and  sent  through  the  plant. 

When  only  the  surface  of  the  garden  bed  is  wet, 
the  soil  will  grow  hard  when  dry  and  will  tend  to 
exclude  air.  It  is  better  by  far  to  water  thoroughly 
every  three  or  four  days  than  to  water  lightly  every 
day.  A  good  rain  should  be  imitated  when  using 
the  hose  or  the  watering  can. 

An  excellent  way  to  water  plants  is  to  flood  the 
garden  or  the  garden  bed.  Particularly  is  this  good 
when  watering  young  plants,  plants  which  have 
just  been  transplanted,  and  seed.  Flooding  will 
cause  the  water  to  penetrate  to  the  roots  with  no 
danger  of  washing  up  the  plants  or  breaking  tender 
branches.  A  small  trench  should  be  made  at 
each  side  of  the  bed  and  the  water  poured  into  it. 

13 


194  Growing  Flowers 

If  the  garden  is  watered  at  night,  not  so  much  mois- 
ture will  be  lost  to  the  garden  through  evaporation 
as  if  it  is  watered  during  the  heat  of  the  day. 
Watering  while  the  sun  is  shining  will  cause  the 
plants  to  become  scalded,  from  which  they  some- 
times do  not  recover. 

When  watering  boxes  in  which  seeds  have  been 
planted,  or  when  watering  seed  in  the  garden  bed, 
a  very  fine  spray  should  be  used,  otherwise  many 
of  the  seed  will  be  washed  up.  A  fine  bulb  syringe 
is  excellent  for  use  when  watering  seed  in  boxes. 

An  occasional  sprinkling  should  be  given  all  plants 
in  order  to  wash  the  dust  from  the  leaves  and  per- 
mit the  plants  to  breathe. 

During  the  spring  months  when  there  is  no 
danger  of  the  atmosphere  later  becoming  over- 
heated, watering  may  be  done  in  the  early  morning. 

An  excellent  way  of  watering  hanging  plants  is  to 
let  them  down  into  a  tub  of  water  and  leave  them 
there  until  the  soil  has  absorbed  all  the  moisture 
it  can.  The  water  should  not  be  permitted  to 
come  up  over  the  top  of  the  pot  while  it  sets  in  the 
water,  or  the  soil  may  be  washed  out.  The  best 
method  is  to  let  the  water  be  soaked  up  into  the 
soil  from  the  bottom  of  the  pot. 


Growing  Flowers  195 

In  watering  shrubs,  trees,  and  large  plants  which 
have  deeply  imbedded  roots,  the  surface  of  the 
earth  around  the  trunk  should  be  depressed  below 
the  surrounding  garden  in  order  to  allow  the  water 
to  stand  in  puddles  and  sink  into  the  ground  near 
the  roots  instead  of  running  off  to  other  surface. 

Plants  which  are  at  all  sensitive  to  disturbance 
should  have  the  water  applied  by  means  of  a  cup,  or 
for  very  young  plants,  a  spoon.  The  hose,  or  even 
a  watering  can,  sometimes  disturbs  the  plants  even 
if  it  does  not  actually  wash  them  up. 

A  piece  of  pipe  three  quarters  of  an  inch  in  di- 
ameter will  serve  well  when  watering  house  plants. 
This  should  be  stuck  into  the  ground  until  it  is 
in  close  proximity  to  the  roots  and  the  water 
poured  down  it.  In  this  way  not  only  the  surface 
of  the  earth  will  receive  water  but  the  lower  part 
will  be  sure  of  getting  sufficient  moisture. 

A  spasmodic  watering  now  and  then  during  a 
very  dry  season  will  be  even  more  harmful  than 
no  water  at  all. 

Cut  Flowers 

The  style  of  vase  in  which  cut  flowers  are  to  be 
placed  should  be  studied.  If  the  vase  is  suited  to 


196  Growing  Flowers 

the  flower  it  tends  to'enhance  the  beauty,  but  such 
arrangement  as  a  tall  vase  containing  short  stubby 
flowers  is  out  of  proportion,  or  vice  versa.  The 
color  of  the  flower  always  should  be  considered  in 
selecting  a  colored  vase  and  care  should  be  taken 
not  to  choose  a  vase  which  has  not  harmonious 
contrast.  The  simpler  and  plainer  the  vase,  the 
more  pleasing  the  effect. 

A  glass  flower  bowl  containing  a  glass  slab 
with  small  holes  into  which  to  insert  the  stems  of 
flowers  will  show  them  off  to  the  greatest  advantage. 
They  will  last  longer  if  given  plenty  of  room  in  this 
way  instead  of  crowding  them  together  in  a  narrow- 
necked  vase. 

Cut  flowers,  particularly  roses,  will  remain  fresh 
longer  if  they  are  given  a  bath  up  to  the  neck  just 
after  they  are  cut.  It  is  a  pity  that  when  so  much 
pains  are  taken  to  grow  flowers  that  more  pains 
are  not  taken  to  preserve  them. 

A  little  salt  placed  in  the  vase  in  which  cut 
flowers  are  placed  will  act  as  a  stimulant  to  the 
flowers  and  keep  them  fresh  and  fragrant  days  longer 
than  if  they  are  placed  merely  in  cold  water. 

Charcoal  taken  from  the  fireplace  and  reduced  to 
a  powder  will  prove  beneficial  to  cut  flowers  if  it 


Growing  Flowers  197 

is  placed  in  the  water  before  they  are  put  in. 
When  the  water  is  renewed  the  charcoal  also  should 
be  renewed.  The  charcoal  should  be  allowed  to 
settle  to  the  bottom  of  the  vase  to  prevent  the 
stems  and  such  leaves  as  touch  the  water  becoming 
black. 

When  sending  cut  flowers  by  mail,  cut  a  small 
white  potato  in  pieces  and  slit  a  piece  with  a  knife. 
In  this  slit  stick  the  cut  end  of  the  flower  stem. 
The  moisture  in  the  potato  will  be  sucked  up  by 
the  flower  and  as  long  as  the  moisture  lasts  the 
flower  will  remain  fresh.  The  size  of  the  piece  of 
potato  must  be  in  proportion  to  the  length  of  time 
the  flower  is  to  be  on  its  journey  and  to  the  size  of 
the  flower. 


Water  Plants 

May  is  the  best  time  of  the  year  for  putting  out 
water  lilies.  Each  plant  should  be  set  in  a  small 
basket  of  loamy  soil,  in  the  bottom  of  which  are 
several  small  stones.  This  should  be  sunk  to  the 
bottom  of  the  pond  or  tank.  If  the  pond  is  quite 
deep,  an  artificial  mound  should  be  built  in  for  the 
basket  to  rest  upon,  otherwise  some  of  the  leaves 
may  never  reach  the  surface  of  the  water. 


198  Growing  Flowers 

Water  plants  will  not  thrive  in  swiftly  flowing  and 
cold  water  but  should  have  still  ponds,  or  tubs  of 
water  in  which  to  grow.  They  should  be  given 
plenty  of  room  and  a  small  pond  or  pool  should 
never  contain  many  plants. 

Below  Is  a  List  of  Plants  Suitable  for  the  Garden  Pool 

White  Water  Lily  Sweet  Flag 

Yellow  Pond  Lily  Water  Plantain 

European  Water  Lily  Iris 

Watershield  Double  Marsh  Marigold 

Watercress  American  Lotus 

Cape  Pond  Weed  Spatter  Dock 

Water  Hyacinth  Golden  Club 

Magnolia  Lotus  Arrow  Arum 

Indian  Lotus  Arrowhead 

Bulrush  ~  Cat-tail 


The  Rock  Garden 

If  there  is  a  running  stream  near  your  garden, 
make  the  most  of  it.  Flowers  adapted  for  growing 
in  water  are  plentiful,  and  a  most  beautiful  rockery 
may  be  built,  not  to  mention  the  advantage  to 
scenery  of  a  seat  or  a  summer-house  placed  nearby. 

In  making  a  rock  garden,  the  stones  should  be 
carefully  placed.  There  should  be  no  empty 
spaces  between  the  rocks.  The  soil  should  lie 


Growing  Flowers  199 

firmly  imbedded,  and  they  should  not  be  placed  in 
such  position  that  pools  of  water  will  form. 

The  rock  garden  should  be  started  the  latter  part  of 
February  or  the  first  of  March  if  there  is  to  be  a 
show  of  blossoms  the  first  season,  for  most  flowers 
suitable  to  a  rock  foundation  bloom  in  April, 
May,  and  June. 

Coarse  sand,  well  drained,  is  required  for  most 
plants  which  grow  among  the  rocks.  A  compost 
suitable  for  the  needs  of  these  flowers  is  composed  of 
two  parts  of  loam  mixed  with  one  part  of  peat  or 
leaf  mold  to  which  has  been  added  a  little  coarse 
sand. 

A  good  mixture  of  soil  for  the  rock  garden  is  com- 
posed of  eight  parts  of  good  friable  loam,  two  parts 
of  broken  sandstone,  two  parts  of  sand,  one  part 
of  leaf  mold,  and  two  parts  of  well  rotted  compost. 


House  Plants 

To  retain  the  gloss  on  a  rubber  plant,  pour  a  little 
sweet  oil  or  castor  oil  about  the  roots  of  the  plant 
every  three  or  four  weeks.  The  oil  will  nourish 
the  plant  and  keep  it  in  healthful  condition  and  the 
gloss  will  be  a  natural  result.  When  the  plant 


2oo  Growing  Flowers 

has  once  become  dull  and  heavy  in  appearance,  a 
little  oil  should  be  smeared  on  a  cloth  and  rubbed 
over  the  leaves,  wiping  it  off  thoroughly  that  the 
air  may  penetrate  the  lungs  of  the  leaves. 

A  pinch  of  mustard,  half  a  teaspoonf ul  to  a  quart 
of  water,  added  to  the  water  in  watering  house 
plants  will  destroy  insects  of  many  kinds  and  will 
not  harm  even  the  most  tender  of  plants. 

In  planting  the  house  plants  in  the  garden  during 
the  summer,  leave  the  plant  in  the  pot  and  plant 
the  pot  as  well.  There  will  be  no  advantage  what- 
ever in  taking  the  plant  from  the  pot,  and  there 
will  be  the  disadvantage  of  upsetting  the  root 
system  twice  during  a  few  months. 

A  small  plant  should  not  be  set  in  a  large  pot.  A 
few  roots  with  too  much  nourishment  will  be  in 
danger  from  having  more  food  than  they  can 
digest,  and  a  sort  of  plant  indigestion  will  set  in. 

House  plants  should  be  fertilized  every  three  or 
four  months  and  it  will  not  be  necessary  to  repot 
them  more  than  once  a  year.  When  plants  out- 
grow  their  quarters,  they  should  always  be  re- 
planted in  larger  pots  to  give  the  root  system  a 
chance  to  develop. 


Growing  Flowers  201 

Always  cultivate  two  or  three  low-growing  house 
plants  for  use  as  a  table  decoration.  The  primrose, 
a  fern,  a  pot  of  pansies,  or  violets,  will  be  very 
beautiful.  Orange  or  grapefruit  seed  sown  thickly 
in  a  pot  will  make  a  very  exquisite  decoration  when 
the  plants  have  reached  a  height  of  a  couple  of 
inches  and  the  first  leaves  are  well  formed. 

A  bushy  limb  placed  in  a  pot  of  earth  and  seed  of 
small-leaved  vines  planted  therein  will  result  in  a 
beautiful  plant.  The  vine  will  twine  itself  around 
the  bush  and  soon  completely  hide  the  bare 
limbs.  The  cypress  vine  will  be  most  satisfactory, 
as  well  as  climbing  nasturtiums. 

A  good  liquid  fertilizer  for  house  plants  is  made 
by  dissolving  two  ounces  of  ammonium  chloride 
in  two  quarts  of  water,  and  adding  four  ounces 
of  sodium  nitrate  and  four  ounces  of  sodium  phos- 
phate. The  mixture  should  be  carefully  strained 
through  three  thicknesses  of  cheesecloth  and 
should  be  used  in  the  proportion  of  a  teaspoonful 
to  a  quart  of  water.  It  should  not  be  put  on 
stronger  than  this  or  injury  to  the  plants  will  be 
the  result. 

Before  putting  earth  in  window  boxes  or  flower 
pots,  whitewash  the  inside  of  the  box  or  pot.  This 


202  Growing  Flowers 

will  prevent  a  wooden  box  from  rotting  as  quickly 
as  it  would  if  the  earth  were  placed  in  it  without 
the  whitewash  coating,  and  it  will  tend  to  keep 
away  insects  from  both  boxes  and  pots. 

House  plants  setting  in  jardinieres  in  windy  places 
are  occasionally  blown  over  and  the  jardiniere 
broken.  If  all  the  available  space  in  the  jardiniere 
is  filled  with  sand  or  gravel,  it  will  usually  be  so 
weighted  that  the  wind  will  have  no  effect  upon  it. 

Lime  water  poured  on  the  soil  will  usually  kill 
worms.  A  teaspoonful  of  perfectly  fresh  lime 
should  be  put  into  a  cup  of  water  and  left  to  stand 
until  the  sediment  settles  at  the  bottom.  The 
hole  for  draining  should  be  closed  before  the  appli- 
cation is  made  on  a  house  plant,  that  the  water 
may  remain  in  the  surface  soil  long  enough  to  do 
its  work. 

Dormant  house  plants  require  little  moisture,  but 
those  which  grow  rapidly  in  winter  in  the  house 
will  need  a  good  supply  of  moisture  constantly. 
Watering  should  be  done  thoroughly,  and  the  soil 
throughout  should  be  wet.  An  occasional  sur- 
face watering  does  practically  no  good. 

Keep  the  soil  in  pots  an  inch  below  the  top  of  the 
pot.  This  will  afford  plenty  of  room  for  water  to 


Growing  Flowers  203 

stand  when  watering,  and  the  earth  will  not  be 
washed  over  the  rim. 

House  plants  should  have  fresh  air  every  day,  or 
they  will  soon  stop  growing  and  perhaps  die. 
The  air  in  cold  weather  should  not  blow  directly 
on  them  but  should  come  through  a  window  at  the 
opposite  side  of  the  room.  Too  high  a  tempera- 
ture and  no  fresh  air  is  just  as  harmful  to  plants 
as  it  is  to  human  beings. 

In  applying  fertilizer  to  house  plants,  give  only  a 
small  amount  at  a  time,  rather  than  make  the  soil 
very  rich  and  thus  cause  such  a  sudden  change  in 
the  food  of  the  plant.  When  there  is  any  doubt 
as  to  whether  you  have  the  right  kind  of  fertilizer 
for  a  particular  plant,  apply  just  a  little  and  watch 
the  result.  You  will  soon  be  able  to  tell  by  the 
growth  whether  or  not  that  particular  fertilizer 
is  beneficial  to  the  plant.  Too  much  fertilizer 
will  overstimulate  a  plant  and  there  will  be  a 
reaction  later. 

When  plants  have  been  stored  away  in  a  cool  spot 
in  the  cellar  they  should  not  be  brought  imme- 
diately into  a  very  warm  room.  If  too  much  heat 
reaches  them,  they  will  have  a  very  rapid  growth 


204  Growing  Flowers 

and  very  little  strength,  and  sooner  or  later  they 
will  suffer  from  it. 

For  a  succession  of  bloom  for  house  plants,  pot 
the  plants  or  plant  the  seed,  at  intervals  of  ten 
days  or  two  weeks,  beginning  the  first  of  Septem- 
ber. 

When  house  plants  are  placed  near  a  window,  see 
that  all  cracks  are  made  air-proof  before  cold 
weather  sets  in,  or  you  may  awake  some  morning 
to  find  a  choice  plant  frozen  stiff  by  a  sudden 
change  of  temperature.  Plants  should  not  be 
permitted  to  touch  the  window  glass  or  frost  may 
reach  them  by  forming  on  the  panes. 

Dipping  a  house  plant  in  very  cold  water  several 
times  will  usually  rid  the  plant  of  red  spiders.  The 
laundry  tub  should  be  filled  with  water  and 
the  pot  immersed.  The  spiders  will  remain  on 
the  surface  of  the  water  where  they  can  easily 

be  killed. 

«• 

In  placing  a  potted  plant  on  a  piece  of  highly 
polished  furniture  place  under  the  pot  a  piece  of 
glass.  This  will  prevent  the  moisture  oozing  from 
the  porous  saucer  and  leaving  a  white  mark  on  the 


Growing  Flowers  205 

wood.  A  paper  or  linen  doily  laid  over  the  glass 
will  perhaps  make  a  more  attractive  appearance 
than  the  plain  glass,  and  if  one  doily  is  placed 
under  the  glass  there  will  be  no  danger  of  the  glass 
leaving  a  scratch. 

Dingy  old  flower  pots  may  be  painted  with  red 
ocher  with  a  most  pleasing  result.  Flower  pots 
should  never  be  fancifully  decorated.  The  pot  is 
meant  to  hold  the  flower,  which  is  the  true  orna- 
ment, and  anything  which  tends  to  detract  from 
the  plant  is  in  direct  competition.  A  flower  will 
lose  its  charm  if  placed  in  a  brightly  colored  pot. 

When  pebbles  or  small. stones,  shells,  etc.,  are  not 
available  for  placing  in  the  bottom  of  pots  to  in- 
sure good  drainage,  "clinkers"  from  the  coal  stove 
will  answer  as  well.  The  very  small  ones  should  be 
used  in  order  not  to  take  up  too  much  room  which 
should  be  left  for  earth. 

When  a  plant  is  frozen,  thaw  it  out  by  covering 
securely,  not  permitting  a  ray  of  light  to  penetrate 
the  darkness,  until  the  weather  moderates.  The 
plant  will  thaw  gradually  and  there  will  be  no  sign 
of  its  ever  having  been  frozen.  Even  very  tender 
plants  can  often  be  restored  by  this  method. 


206  Growing  Flowers 

When  plants  are  frozen,  they  should  never  be 
brought  at  once  into  a  hot  room,  but  should  be 
placed  in  a  room  where  the  temperature  is  just  a 
trifle  warmer  than  the  temperature  from  which 
they  have  just  been  taken.  The  temperature 
should  then  be  gradually  brought  to  a  higher  degree 
and  this  process  should  take  two  or  three  days. 

House  plants  often  fail  to  thrive  from  no  apparent 
reason  when  what  they  really  need  is  repotting. 
Having  eaten  all  the  food  from  the  old  soil,  they 
require  entirely  new  soil  and  the  addition  of  fer- 
tilizer alone  will  not  answer  the  purpose. 

Provide  potting  soil  when  fertilizing  the  garden 
in  the  fall.  It  should  be  placed  in  a  large  box  or  in 
the  pots  and  left  to  stand  all  winter  when  it  will  be 
ready  for  spring  use.  If  the  frost  or  even  a  light 
snow  falls  on  it  several  times,  and  the  sun  heats  it 
afterward  it  will  be  in  excellent  condition  in  the 
spring. 

The  latter  part  of  May  or  the  first  of  June  is 
time  enough  for  putting  the  house  plants  out  of  doors 
and  even  then  they  should  first  be  brought  out  on 
a  bright,  sunshiny  day  and  brought  in  at  night  for 
several  days,  until  they  become  accustomed  to  a 
cooler  temperature. 


Growing  Flowers  207 

House  plants  should  be  turned  around  occasionally 
so  that  all  sides  may  have  the  benefit  of  the  sunlight. 
To  leave  them  in  one  position  will  cause  bushy 
plants  to  become  one-sided,  and  plants  of  one 
stem  will  bend  toward  the  sun  instead  of  growing 
tall  and  straight,  beside  having  the  leaves  on  one 
side  of  the  plant  a  pale,  sickly  shade. 

House  plants  should  be  repotted  several  weeks  before 
cold  weather  in  order  that  they  may  have  plenty 
of  time  to  become  thoroughly  adapted  to  the  new 
soil  conditions  before  winter  arrives.  Occasionally, 
a  plant  will  grow  so  rapidly  during  the  winter  that 
it  must  be  repotted  at  once,  hence  there  should 
always  be  on  hand  a  good  supply  of  soil  for  repot- 
ting or  cold  earth  will  have  to  be  thoroughly 
thawed  out  and  warmed  before  the  repotting  can 
be  done. 

The  Hotbed 

In  order  to  have  flowers  early  in  the  season,  a  hot- 
bed should  be  provided.  In  severe  climates,  some 
plants  will  not  have  a  chance  to  get  a  good  start 
in  flowering  before  time  for  the  frost  to  appear 
again,  while  with  a  hotbed,  the  plants  can  grow 
to  a  fairly  good  size  before  warm  weather  actually 
comes  and  if  transplanted  immediately  upon  the 


208  Growing  Flowers 

frost  being  out  of  the  ground,  a  long  season  will  be 
insured. 

Before  plants  are  transplanted  from  the  hotbed 
to  the  garden,  they  should  be  thoroughly  hardened 
by  giving  them  at  first  just  a  little  air,  gradually 
increasing  the  amount  of  air  space  daily  until  they 
are  entirely  exposed.  Hotbed  plants  should  never 
be  exposed  after  the  sun  has  gone  down  until  the 
period  of  all-day  fresh  air  has  been  reached,  then 
the  glass  may  be  raised  during  the  night.  When 
they  can  stand  this  treatment  and  thrive,  they  are 
ready  to  be  planted  out  of  doors.  Not  only  will 
this  method  prevent  plants  dying  from  sudden  ex- 
posure, but  they  will  be  much  more  strong  and 
vigorous  when  they  have  attained  full  growth. 

All  watering  of  plants  in  the  hotbed  or  cold  frame 
should  be  done  in  the  morning  and  preferably  on 
sunny  days.  To  water  them  late  in  the  afternoon 
and  close  the  glass  down  will  cause  them  to  become 
chilled. 

The  hotbed  should  be  given  a  southern  location 
that  it  may  receive  all  the  sunlight  there  is,  and  it 
should  be  protected  on  the  north  and  east  from 
the  bitter  winds.  Placed  near  a  wall  or  fence,  or 
even  thick  shrubbery  on  the  north  and  east,  will 


Growing  Flowers  209 

answer  well,  but  if  this  is  not  feasible,  high  boards 
may  be  placed  in  an  upright  position  near  the  hot- 
bed. 

Sacks  of  leaves,  straw,  or  a  bag  of  manure  laid  over 
the  hotbed  sash  at  night  will  protect  the  young 
plants  in  even  the  coldest  weather.  The  layer  of 
manure  in  the  sack  need  not  be  more  than  an 
inch  thick,  but  it  should  cover  all  parts  of  the  sash. 
Double  sash  will  be  very  convenient,  though  it 
will  not  be  necessary  to  use  it  all  season. 

In  starting  ventilation  for  the  hotbed,  always  raise 
the  side  of  the  sash  opposite  the  direction  in  which 
the  wind  is  blowing,  or  the  plants  are  likely  to  take 
cold. 

Several  small  hotbeds  are  more  convenient  than 
one  large  one,  as  they  are  easier  to  handle  and  each 
variety  of  flowers  can  be  treated  in  such  manner 
as  is  best  suited  to  the  plant. 

When  to  start  the  hotbed  depends  upon  the 
location.  In  a  cold  climate,  it  will  be  impractical 
to  start  it  as  early  as  it  is  started  in  a  warm 
climate,  for  the  ground  will  have  to  become 
thoroughly  warmed  anyway  before  the  young 
plants  can  be  transplanted.  The  length  of  time 
14 


2io  Growing  Flowers 

for  seed  to  germinate  for  a  certain  flower,  and  the 
size  at  which  it  is  to  be  transplanted,  should  always 
be  taken  into  consideration  when  starting  the  hotbed. 

If  hotbed  plants  are  getting  too  much  sunlight,  lay 
a  piece  of  thin  green  cloth  over  the  sash,  or  cover 
with  a  coating  of  leaves  or  shrubbery.  When  the 
weather  has  grown  warm  and  the  plants  are  not 
yet  ready  to  be  transplanted,  a  coating  of  paint 
over  the  sash  may  prove  satisfactory  in  regulating 
the  heat. 

"A  hotbed  is  not  difficult  to  make,  nor  will  it  prove 
to  be  expensive.  A  hole  of  the  size  planned  should 
be  dug  and  the  four  sides  well  boarded  that  the 
dirt  may  not  slip  down  through  the  cracks.  A 
depth  of  two  to  three  feet  will  be  enough,  and 
stable  manure  should  be  packed  on  the  bottom. 
Many  gardeners  prefer  to  alternate  layers  of 
manure  with  layers  of  sand  to  insure  good  drain- 
age. The  rear  boards  of  the  hotbed  should  be 
higher  than  those  in  front,  that  there  may  be  a 
good  slope  to  the  sash  for  draining  rain  water. 
After  the  manure  has  stood  a  couple  of  weeks  in  the 
hotbed,  a  top  layer  of  sand  six  inches  in  depth 
should  be  placed  on  it,  and  this  layer  should  come 
within  six  or  eight  inches  of  the  sash,  as  most 


Growing  Flowers  211 

plants  will  not  grow  taller  than  that  before  being 
transplanted.  A  little  compost  mixed  with  the  top 
layer  of  sand  will  be  beneficial.  A  thermometer 
should  be  kept  in  the  hotbed  while  the  manure  is 
standing  and  should  reach  120  degrees  and  then 
drop  to  90  before  the  top  layer  of  soil  is  added, 
when  it  will  be  time  to  plant  the  seed. 

A  hotbed  made  of  concrete  is  there  to  stay  and  there 
will  not  have  to  be  a  renewal  every  few  years 
because  the  manure  has  rotted  the  boards.  It  will 
not  be  more  expensive  in  the  long  run,  but  the 
selection  of  site  should  be  made  carefully  for  it 
cannot  be  changed.  In  order  to  make  a  concrete 
hotbed  there  should  be  set  upright  in  the  ground 
a  double  layer  of  boards  for  forming  the  walls,  just 
as  would  be  done  for  a  wooden  hotbed.  The  con- 
crete should  be  poured  into  this  while  soft  and 
the  boards  left  in  place  until  the  concrete  has 
hardened  all  the  way  down. 

Good  drainage  for  the  hotbed  may  be  secured  by 
placing  at  the  bottom,  before  the  manure  is  put  in, 
a  four-inch  layer  of  cinders.  Drainage  is  necessary 
if  the  plants  are  to  thrive,  and  to  place  the  hotbed 
in  a  well  drained  spot  will  be  advisable  whether 
or  not  the  cinder  bottom  is  used. 


212  Growing  Flowers 

A  pit  is  simply  a  large  hotbed  and  is  constructed 
along  the  same  principles,  except  that  as  it  is  in 
the  form  of  a  greenhouse  buried  under  ground, 
there  need  be  no  layers  of  manure.  It  should, 
however,  have  good  drainage  and  should  have  a 
sash  covering.  It  may  be  made  of  either  concrete 
or  wood,  though  concrete  is  highly  recommended 
as  it  will  not  permit  any  water  to  ooze  through  the 
earth  surrounding  the  walls.  The  depth  of  exca- 
vation depends  upon  the  needs  of  the  individual 
who  is  to  use  it,  but  it  should  always  be  deep 
enough  to  give  good  standing  room. 

Whenever  the  weather  is  mild  and  pleasant,  the 
pit,  hotbed,  or  greenhouse  should  be  aired.  If 
fresh  air  is  not  given  to  plants,  they  will  be  likely 
to  have  mildew  form  on  them  and  possibly  the 
plants  will  rot,  or  damp  off. 


THE  LAWN 

THE  lawn  is  the  most  prominent  feature  of  the 
country  home.  A  well-kept  lawn  lends  distinction 
to  even  the  most  humble  of  homes  and  it  is  a  con- 
tinuous source  of  delight  to  the  occupants  of  the 
house  as  well  as  'to  the  passersby,  while  an  un- 
kempt lawn  with  bare  patches  and  rough  spots 
bespeaks  carelessness  of  habit  of  the  person  who 
has  it  in  charge  and  is  a  constant  eyesore.  The 
appearance  of  the  lawn  will  almost  always  furnish 
a  keynote  to  the  interior  of  the  house.  Pride 
in  the  interior  surroundings  cannot  but  spread 
to  the  exterior. 

A  large  lawn  is  easy  to  plan.  Vines,  trees,  and 
shrubbery  have  ample  space  and  many  varieties 
may  be  attractively  dotted  here  and  there  in 
natural  order,  but  a  small  plot  necessarily  de- 
mands that  it  be  treated  in  a  more  formal  way. 

The  lawn  of  generous  proportions  can  very 
properly  be  fitted  with  curved  walks  and  drive- 
ways, curling  picturesquely  around  clumps  of 
shrubbery  and  clusters  of  plants,  but  the  small 

213 


214  The  Lawn 

plot  should  have  paths  laid  in  direct  line  from  one 
end  to  the  other  and  the  less  conspicuous  they  are 
the  better  taste  they  are  in,  as  anything  indicating 
a  suggestion  of  a  stroll  would  appear  somewhat 
ridiculous. 

Where  there  is  not  an  abundance  of  room  for 
both  grass  and  flowers,  grass  should  predominate, 
otherwise  the  garden  will  be  a  conglomeration  of 
vegetation  with  no  order  and  no  dignity.  It  is 
true  that  the  purpose  of  the  garden  is  flowers,  yet 
a  mass  of  flowers  in  a  small  space  will  never  receive 
the  appreciation  which  each  individual  plant  de- 
serves. 

In  planting  a  new  plot,  or  in  remaking  an  old 
one,  the  plot  should  be  drawn  first  on  paper  in 
correct  proportions  with  regard  to  any  irregularity 
in  shape,  and  every  tree,  bush,  or  clump  of  bushes 
should  be  jotted  down  on  the  paper  in  a  spot 
corresponding  to  the  same  location  in  the  garden 
itself.  Only  in  this  way  can  one  get  an  idea  be- 
forehand of  just  how  the  various  ideas  will  work 
out. 

The  lawn  is  worthy  of  a  great  deal  of  care,  yet 
it  requires  very  little  in  comparison  to  other  vege- 
tation. The  kind  of  seed  to  plant  depends  upon 
the  locality  in  which  it  is  planted.  The  sandy 
soil  of  the  far  South  requires  a  well-rooted,  broad- 


The  Lawn  215 

leaved,  yet  slow-growing,  turfy  grass,  needing  very 
infrequent  clippings,  while  in  the  heavier  soils  of 
the  North  and  East  may  be  planted  quick-grow- 
ing grass,  preferably  a  mixture  of  several  kinds, 
which  should  be  kept  cut  close  to  the  ground  in 
order  to  keep  it  young,  tender,  and  a  fresh  green 
in  color. 

A  garden  with  an  odd  shape  is  far  easier  to  plan 
artistically  than  the  straight  fifty  by  one  hundred. 
Odd  corners  afford  a  good  opportunity  for  filling 
in  with  vegetation,  while  the  garden  of  strictly 
straight  lines  needs  borders  and  beds  of  similar 
severity.  Fancy  borders  and  beds  are  not  in  good 
taste.  Simplicity  should  be  the  keynote;  flowers 
and  shrubbery  in  themselves  are  sufficient  attrac- 
tions for  the  garden  plot,  and  the  simpler  the 
foundation  the  better  chance  there  is  for  display- 
ing the  real  objects  of  beauty. 

Pergolas,  arches,  and  arbors  not  only  provide 
a  support  for  vines  and  clinging  plants,  but  they 
furnish  shady  spots  for  the  plants  requiring  little 
or  no  sunlight,  and  they  add  materially  to  the 
beauty  of  the  garden  by  displaying  at  a  height 
the  vegetation  which  they  support.  Great  discre- 
tion must  be  exercised  with  reference  to  the  plac- 
ing of  these  artificial  adjuncts.  Any  commingling 
of  nature  with  the  artificial  must  be  very  carefully 


216  The  Lawn 

handled.  They  should  not  be  in  a  conspicuous 
position ;  the  garden  is  not  meant  for  their  display 
but  rather  they  are  meant  to  display  the  garden. 
The  small  garden  can  afford  but  one  and  a 
garden  of  twenty  thousand  square  feet  will  not 
afford  a  background  for  more  than  three  while  two 
will  be  better.  The  size  of  the  pergola  or  arch 
must  always  be  governed  by  the  size  of  the  walk 
which  it  flanks.  A  large  pergola  in  a  small  space 
gives  the  garden  a  very  top-heavy  appearance. 

An  attractive  seat  is  not  only  a  convenience  in 
the  garden  but  it  may  be  a  thing  of  beauty  as  well. 
There  is  a  place  for  one  in  every  garden,  however 
small.  The  size  and  style  should  be  in  proportion 
to  the  surroundings.  Rustic  seats  are  very  pretty 
but  they  should  be  of  simple  line  construction 
which  they  usually  are  not. 

The  construction  of  the  walks  is  of  the  utmost 
importance.  Cement  walks  are  severe  but  they 
are  very  practical  if  the  cement  is  properly  mixed. 
If  the  cement  is  purchased  already  mixed,  be  sure 
that  the  dealer  is  reliable.  If  a  walk  cracks  dur- 
ing cold  weather,  after  a  rain,  it  usually  means 
that  enough  sand  was  not  mixed  in  the  cement. 
The  artistic  effect  calls  for  a  walk  or  driveway  set 
a  little  below  the  level  of  the  surrounding  surface, 
but  this  is  not  always  wise  in  laying  a  cement  walk 


The  Lawn  217 

unless  there  is  a  carefully  graded  slope  from  the 
center  of  the  walk  outward  to  permit  the  rain 
water  to  flow  off  as  fast  as  it  falls.  A  brick  walk  is 
very  pretty,  particularly  after  it  has  aged  a  bit  and 
the  bricks  have  a  more  or  less  irregular  appearance. 
This  irregularity  properly  comes  with  age  and  no 
amount  of  carefully  careless  planning  will  create 
it.  Bricks  are  very  porous  and  the  water  will  be 
absorbed  and  drained  down  into  the  ground,  hence 
it  is  usually  perfectly  safe  to  walk  on  a  brick  path 
after  a  rain  with  no  fear  of  getting  one's  feet  wet. 
A  very  artistic  effect  can  be  produced  by  the  use 
of  bricks,  and  the  pretty  soft  redness  of  tone  lends 
a  touch  of  color  to  the  garden  at  all  seasons  of  the 
year.  A  stepping-stone  walk  is  charming  for  use 
in  a  small  space  but  it  is  not  only  highly  imprac- 
tical for  a  long  pathway,  owing  to  the  difficulty 
of  weeding  which  is  best  done  by  hand  to  save  the 
edges  of  the  garden  tools,  but  the  stones  themselves 
suggest  a  tripping  walk  which  is  tiring  if  kept  up 
for  any  distance.  A  path  of  from  three  to  ten 
feet  can  be  more  attractively  and  more  advantage- 
ously planned  by  the  use  "of  stones  than  by  the 
use  of  either  cement  or  brick.  A  foundation  com- 
posed of  a  mixture  of  gravel  and  cinders  will  prob- 
ably give  the  most  satisfaction  in  the  average 
garden.  Pebbles  mixed  with  gravel  makes  a 


218  The  Lawn 

foundation  easily  drained  and  the  material  is  so 
clean  and  pretty  that  even  should  a  little  adhere 
to  the  shoes  and  be  carried  indoors,  it  will  not  be 
strongly  objectionable. 

A  house  on  the  hillside  creates  a  splendid  oppor- 
tunity for  the  landscape  gardener.  First,  the 
slope  must  be  carefully  dealt  with  and  it  is  to  be 
hoped  that  every  house  planned  on  a  hillside  can 
have  for  treatment  at  least  15,000  square  feet  of 
garden  surface.  This  will  permit  a  fairly  wide 
driveway  and  an  additional  footpath,  without 
making  either  conspicuous.  All  small  plots  which 
are  not  even  should  be  leveled  to  the  street  sur- 
face, or  only  a  foot  or  two  above,  and  under  no 
circumstances  should  a  small  plot  be  terraced,  or 
a  portion  of  it  raised  above  the  natural  level.  To 
do  so  is  to  give  the  plot  an  effect  of  even  smaller 
proportions  and  no  part  of  it  will  show  to  advan- 
tage. Amateur  gardeners  with  overdeveloped 
ideas  are  likely  to  make  this  mistake  in  planning 
a  small  plot  on  the  hillside. 

When  there  is  a  natural  slope  which  would  be 
expensive  to  level  it  is  a  better  plan  to  leave  the 
lawn  sloping  gently  toward  the  edges  instead  of 
terracing  a  part  of  it  and  putting  in  steps  which  will 
only  emphasize  the  lack  of  space. 


The  Lawn  219 

The  Care  of  the  Lawn 

The  fall  of  the  year  is  particularly  recommended 
for  starting  grass.  At  this  season  the  ground  is 
thoroughly  warmed  and  there  is  usually  a  copious 
rainfall  to  hasten  germination  of  the  seed,  and 
enable  the  grass  to  become  firmly  established 
before  winter  sets  in.  When  the  grass  recom- 
mences growth  in  the  spring  it  takes  full  posses- 
sion of  the  ground  and  crowds  out  the  weeds.  A 
lawn  started  in  the  fall  of  the  year  will  endure  the 
next  summer's  drought  much  better  than  a  lawn 
sown  in  the  spring. 

To  produce  a  closely  interwoven,  firm,  deep,  and 
elastic  turf,  a  mixture  of  seed  should  be  sown.  If 
various  kinds  of  grasses  are  started,  the  different 
kinds  arriving  at  their  best  during  different  months 
of  the  year,  the  lawn  will  have  a  perpetual  cover- 
ing of  green  which  cannot  be  secured  when  a  single 
variety  is  sown. 

If  the  birds  pick  up  the  grass  seed,  stretch  black 
garden  netting  over  the  ground  until  the  grass  has 
appeared.  If  the  lawn  covers  a  good  deal  of 
space,  it  may  be  necessary  to  sow  a  part  of  it  at  a 
time,  unless  a  great  quantity  of  netting  is  at  hand. 


22O  The  Care  of  the  Lawn 

When  moss  makes  its  appearance  on  the  lawn  it 
means  that  the  soil  needs  attention.  It  may 
need  fertilizing  or  it  may  require  better  drainage 
conditions.  Refertilizing  will  usually  cause  its 
disappearance. 

After  sowing  lawn  grass  seed,  roll  the  lawn  to 
press  the  seed  down.  A  fine  sprinkling  of  water 
will  also  weight  the  sand  and  help  to  keep  the 
seed  from  blowing  away,  but  the  sprinkling  must 
be  in  very  fine  sprays.  Rolling  should  precede 
watering,  otherwise  many  of  the  seed  will  adhere 
to  the  roller. 

In  purchasing  grass  seed,  select  the  best.  Five 
pounds  of  good  seed  is  worth  more  than  ten  of 
poor.  Poor  seed  will  not  mature  well  and  a  second 
sowing  will  have  to  be  made  before  successful 
results  can  be  obtained.  Mixed  seed  is  usually  the 
most  satisfactory. 

When  watering  the  lawn,  do  a  thorough  job  and  do 
it  late  in  the  afternoon  after  the  sun  has  gone 
down.  Be  sure  that  the  soil  is  moist  all  the  way 
to  the  ends  of  the  roots,  and  then  do  not  water  it 
again  until  the  soil  is  dry.  A  little  water  is  in- 
jurious rather  than  beneficial. 


The  Care  of  the  Lawn  221 

In  the  sandy  soils  of  the  Southern  section  of  the 
country  lawns  can  only  be  made  successfully  from 
turf  or  from  rootstocks.  Grasses  which  develop 
underground  stems  are  most  successful  under 
Southern  conditions.  The  white  Dutch  clover  can 
be  satisfactorily  used  in  combination  with  blue 
grass  and  redtop. 

Newly  established  lawns  should  never  be  allowed 
to  mature  seed.  Frequent  clipping  tends  to  stimu- 
late the  stooling  of  the  plants  rather  than  to  inter- 
fere with  their  growth.  During  the  winter  a 
dressing  of  coarse  litter  or  bone  meal  will  be  very 
desirable,  or  if  the  soil  is  poor,  a  layer  of  thor- 
oughly composted  stable  manure  will  make  for 
good  growth. 

In  the  early  spring,  the  lawn  should  be  raked 
with  a  steel-tooth  rake,  and  all  bare  places  seeded 
or  filled  in  with  turf,  and  the  whole  lawn  rolled 
with  a  heavy  roller  to  make  it  smooth  and  insure 
easy  running  for  the  mower  when  cutting  begins. 

September  is  a  trying  month  for  the  lawn.  Inces- 
sant and  thorough  watering  should  be  given  at 
this  period. 


222  The  Care  of  the  Lawn 

When  the  lawn  is  small  in  area,  do  not  cut  it  up 
into  flower  beds.  The  lawn  should  be  the  first 
thought,  for  a  well-kept  lawn  alone  is  a  beautiful 
thing.  All  flower  beds  should  be  around  the 
borders. 


Grasses 

Among  the  vigorous  grasses  which  are  very  effective 
when  mixed  with  shrubbery  is  the  arundo,  or  giant 
reed.  This  grass  should  have  a  rich  soil  and 
should  be  kept  moist.  It  should  be  protected  dur- 
ing the  severe  weather  in  the  winter. 

Hardy,  tall-growing  grasses  with  a  touch  of  color 
will  add  to  the  beauty  of  a  lawn.  They  should  be 
massed  around  ugly  angles  and  at  the  harsh  lines 
of  a  building.  The  tall  reed  grass  mixed  with  hairy 
sumac  affords  a  pleasing  contrast  to  the  vivid 
green  of  the  lawn  grass,  while  the  red  berries  of  the 
barberry  will  lend  a  bit  of  cheer  during  the  months 
when  flowers  and  shrubbery  are  scarce. 

Love  grass  will  thrive  in  ordinary  garden  soil  and 
requires  little  attention.  It  grows  to  a  height  of  a 
couple  of  feet  and  is  very  pretty  for  indoor  decora- 


The  Care  of  the  Lawn  223 

tion,  keeping  all  winter  if  it  is  cut  before  it  is  too 
ripe.  Seed  sown  out  of  doors  will  be  self -perpetu- 
ating. 

A  pretty  grass  suitable  for  planting  near  a  brook, 
pond,  or  in  any  very  moist  place  is  cotton  grass.  It 
requires  very  little  care  and  the  soft  cottony  white 
flowers  are  very  beautiful  in  masses. 


SHRUBBERY  AND  TREES 

ALL  outdoors  has  the  advantage  of  flowers  and 
tender  foliage  plants  in  the  spring  and  summer,  but 
during  the  cold,  dreary  fall  and  winter  months,  we 
have  only  shrubbery  and  trees  to  depend  upon  for 
beautification  of  the  grounds,  and  so  they  perform 
an  even  more  important  function  in  life  than  the 
many  varieties  of  flowers.  To  understand  what  a 
dreary  life  it  is  without  trees  and  shrubbery  during 
the  cold  days  of  winter  one  needs  but  to  travel 
through  some  of  the  Middle  Western  States  where 
miles  and  miles  of  country  are  swiftly  traversed 
with  never  a  view  of  any  growing  thing  except  a 
bit  of  straggling,  ugly  sagebrush  here  and  there. 
One  day's  journey  only  is  needed  to  give  a  fair  idea 
of  what  the  lack  of  evergreen  growth  means  to  the 
world.  Yet  we  who  are  constantly  surrounded  by 
plant  life  in  abundance  do  not  appreciate  to  the 
fullest  extent  the  immense  benefit  to  be  derived, 
In  the  South  where  the  season  is  long  and  vege- 
table growth  is  rendered  so  easy,  it  is  almost  im- 

224 


Shrubbery  and  Trees  225 

possible  not  to  have  trees  and  shrubbery  of  some 
kind,  but  in  the  East,  where  millions  of  dollars  are 
spent  on  public  parks,  practically  nothing  is  done 
in  the  city  backyards  to  promote  shrubbery  or 
tree  growth,  and  not  very  much  is  done  in  the 
suburban  towns,  though  a  great  deal  of  time  may 
be  given  the  garden  for  the  cultivation  of  summer 
flowers.  Yet  it  is  during  the  winter  that  these 
plants  would  be  most  appreciated  and  a  great  deal 
of  attention  to  them  is  not  needed.  Hedges  of 
privet,  barberry,  box,  ilex,  myrtle,  and  many  other 
varieties  require  only  an  annual  fertilization  and  an 
occasional  pruning  and  they  stand  to  delight  the 
eye  twelve  months  in  the  year.  Shrubbery  fills 
a  niche  which  flowers  never  can  fill  and  evergreen 
shrubbery  is  always  to  be  recommended  where  a 
great  variety  cannot  be  afforded.  Merely  a  hedge 
around  a  well-kept  grass  plot  will  furnish  plenty  of 
green,  though  a  hedge  around  a  small  yard  should 
never  attain  a  height  greater  than  two  and  a  half 
feet,  otherwise  the  tendency  will  be  to  make  the 
yard  appear  smaller  still  and  the  house  will  seem 
cramped  for  room  as  well.  On  large  tracts  a 
hedge  used  as  a  screen  will  be  most  satisfactory  and 
a  large  tract  can  easily  afford  a  hedge  six  feet  or 
more  in  height,  if  one  would  like  to  copy  the  Eng- 
lish idea  of  privacy.  It  is  a  much  mooted  ques- 
15 


226  Shrubbery  and  Trees 

tion  as  to  whether  the  small  yard  should  have  a 
hedge  at  all,  many  preferring  to  have  merely  a 
grass  plot,  leaving  out  the  more  formidable  hedge. 
This  however  is  a  matter  of  taste  for  the  individual 
gardener  to  decide.  When  the  hedge  is  eliminated, 
clumps  of  shrubbery  can  be  made  use  of  for  mark- 
ing a  boundary  line  in  an  irregular  manner  and 
this  will  be  a  very  attractive  and  natural  way  of 
making  a  division.  These,  too,  should  be  ever- 
green, for  a  number  of  bare  branches  in  the  dead 
of  winter  is  more  suggestive  of  cold  and  death  than 
bare  spaces  would  be.  Several  plants  of  a  single 
variety  of  shrubs  planted  in  a  clump  are  far  more 
effective  than  single  plants  dotted  about,  and  a 
variety  of  flowering  plants  clustered  together  will 
prove  even  more  beautiful  if  caution  is  used  in  the 
grouping.  A  tall,  heavy  shrub  should  have  planted 
near  it  bushes  of  light-leaved  foliage,  otherwise  a 
somber  aspect  will  be  given  the  garden. 

Where  the  boundary  is  marked  by  an  unsightly 
fence,  shrubbery  planted  at  intervals  alongside 
will  do  much  to  lessen  the  homeliness  of  the  fence, 
and  a  stone  wall  will  not  present  so  cold  and  bare 
an  appearance  if  shrubbery  is  planted  to  break  up 
the  lines.  Odd  buildings  such  as  the  garage,  a 
barn,  a  smokehouse,  etc.,  will  not  be  an  eyesore  if 
beautiful  shrubbery  stands  near,  and  there  is  no 


Shrubbery  and  Trees  227 

more  beautiful  background  for  the  annualjthan  the 
heavy -leaved  foliage  which  so  many  shrubs  have. 

The  sphere  of  shrubbery  extends  indoors  as 
well  and  many  a  stiff,  formal  living  room  or  hall  is 
relieved  by  a  box  of  shrubbery.  A  house  built  on 
severe  lines  is  given  an  air  of  grace  and  charm  by 
the  addition  of  plants  with  red  berries  and  pinnate- 
leaves.  In  planting  shrubbery  the  amateur  gar- 
dener should  remember  always  to  provide  for 
lightness  of  effect,  otherwise  he  is  likely  to  emerge 
from  his  labors  with  a  splendid  showing  of  ceme- 
terial  displays.  The  house  which  already  has  a 
"homey"  atmosphere  from  the  exterior  can  be 
treated  to  advantage  with  almost  any  variety  of 
plants.  A  hedge  of  evergreen  shrubbery  to 
beautify  the  grounds  in  the  winter  will  also 
act  as  a  background  for  plants  with  brightly 
colored  flowers  in  the  spring  and  summer  and  the 
garden  will  seem  to  have  changed  its  dress,  while 
in  reality  it  will  just  have  a  mantle  thrown  over 
the  old  one,  and  that  with^very  little  labor. 

Some  extremely  pretty  foliage  plants  for  the 
indoors  during  the  winter  will  add  materially  to 
the  garden  plan  if  set  out  of  doors  during  the 
summer,  leaving  the  plant  in  its  pot,  and  this 
method  of  treatment  will  be  very  beneficial  for 
the  plant. 


228  Shrubbery  and  Trees 

Many  varieties  of  flowering  plants  make  beauti- 
ful hedges  but  evergreens  should  be  planted  among 
them  or  there  will  be  a  dreadful  lack  of  foliage  in 
the  winter,  and  we  must  take  care  of  the  winter 
plants  for  the  summer  can  do  so  much  for  itself. 
One  very  pretty  idea  is  to  plant  a  hedge  of  hy- 
drangea, spiraea,  or  other  blossoming  plants  for 
the  hedge,  and  at  intervals  clumps  of  evergreen. 
This  will  give  a  beautiful  flowering  effect  during 
the  summer  blooming  period  and  yet  the  lawn 
will  not  be  bleak  in  the  winter. 

Of  recent  years  a  movement  has  been  on  foot  to 
conserve  the  forests.  The  movement  is  looked 
upon  by  the  thoughtless  as  being  of  a  more  or 
less  sentimental  nature,  with  the  ultimate  end  of 
keeping  intact  the  natural  beauty  which  surrounds 
us;  but  it  is  hardly  a  matter  of  sentiment,  so 
much  more  important  is  the  practical  side  of  the 
question.  Without  the  trees  we  would  be  in  dire 
distress  sooner  or  later.  We  would  find  ourselves 
by  and  by  at  a  loss  for  a  home,  or  at  least  for  many 
of  the  parts  of  a  house  and  the  articles  needed  in 
it,  and  even  to-day  in  some  sections  of  the  country 
a  frame  house  is  more  costly  than  a  brick  or  stone 
house  owing  to  the  scarcity  of  timber  and  the  high 
cost  of  lumber.  Therefore,  plant  a  tree!  Trees 
practically  take  care  of  themselves.  All  that  many 


Shrubbery  and  Trees  229 

of  them  need  is  a  little  pruning  every  couple  of 
years  and  an  annual  application  of  fertilizer,  while 
some  do  not  need  even  that  but  may  be  left  alone 
season  after  season  to  produce  what  growth  they 
will.  The  trees  for  the  home  grounds  should  be 
selected  with  regard  to  the  surroundings.  A  tree 
for  the  flower  garden  should  not  be  a  spreading 
tree  unless  there  is  plenty  of  room  for  flowers  and 
shrubbery  beyond  the  shade  zone.  If  several 
trees  are  to  be  planted  some  of  them  should  be 
evergreens  in  order  that  a  cheerless  display  of  bare 
limbs  will  not  be  all  there  is  to  greet  the  eye  when 
autumn  has  taken  its  toll;  but  if  the  plot  is  small 
and  there  is  space  for  only  one  or  two,  it  is  better 
to  plant  a  deciduous  tree  for  evergreens  are  not 
so  refreshing  as  new  buds  in  springtime.  In 
all  cases  the  size  which  the  tree  will  ultimately 
attain  must  be  in  proportion  to  the  size  of  the 
garden.  Nor  should  a  large  tree  be  planted  near 
a  window  to  keep  out  all  the  much  needed  sun- 
light which  should  be  furnished  to  the  indoors. 
Trees  furnish  a  splendid  background  for  the  home 
and  when  set  at  a  safe  distance  from  the  house 
the  view  will  be  very  much  appreciated.  A  house 
always  shows  to  a  much  greater  advantage  if 
trees  are  grouped  at  a  short  distance  from  it  in- 
stead of  being  set  up  against  the  house  to  aid 


230  Shrubbery  and  Trees 

in  breeding  mosquitoes  and  keeping  the  walls 
damp.  Nor  should  the  trees  be  planted  too 
close  together.  A  group  of  trees  often  is  advisa- 
ble but  there  should  be  plenty  of  room  between 
them,  otherwise  the  roots  will  not  be  given  their 
chance  and  a  great  deal  of  nourishment  will  need 
to  be  provided  for  them  in  order  that  they  may 
make  the  proper  growth. 

A  tree  will  always  do  best  if  planted  in  its  natural 
sphere.  That  is,  trees  shipped  from  the  South 
to  the  North  will  never  thrive  as  well  as  a  tree 
taken  from  the  Northern  woods,  if  it  even  lives  at 
all.  Many  fruit  trees  are  just  as  pretty  as  any 
other  flowering  tree  and  serve  the  double  purpose 
of  furnishing  beauty  and  supplying  the  table  with 
fruit. 

Many  of  the  States  are  working  hard  to  en- 
courage tree  growing  and  they  will  furnish  the 
trees  and  a  representative  to  direct  the  planting, 
and  when  all  this  is  offered  it  would  seem  a  pity 
not  to  take  advantage  of  it  and  produce  a  splen- 
did crop  of  trees  for  our  old  age  and  the  coming 
generation. 


Shrubbery  and  Trees  231 

Shrubbery 

Shrubbery  trained  to  fancy  shapes,  such  as  a 
horse's  head,  a  basket,  a  chair,  etc.,  is  not  beautiful. 
It  is  merely  a  novelty  and  if  talents  must  be  dis- 
played in  this  way,  do  it  where  it  will  not  be  con- 
stantly displayed  to  the  public  eye.  Keep  it  in 
the  background  and  draw  the  curtain,  as  it  were, 
only  to  a  few  who  will  forgive. 

The  common  mint  makes  a  pretty  border  shrub, 
and  the  odor  is  very  pleasing  in  the  open  air.  It  is 
easily  cultivated  and  almost  any  soil  will  prove 
satisfactory  to  it.  It  may  be  propagated  from 
seed,  from  cuttings,  or  by  a  division  of  the  roots. 

Borders  and  places  where  shrubbery  is  planted 
should  be  made  very  rich  for  the  abundance  of  plant 
life  will  soon  consume  all  the  nourishment  that 
is  in  the  soil,  unless  avery  generous  supply  is 
furnished. 

The  foliage  of  the  round-leaf  privet  hedge  is  more 
dense  and  compact  than  the  foliage  of  the  slim, 
pointed  leaf.  This  also  applies  to  the  round- 
leaf  boxwood  plant  as  against  the  narrow  leaf. 


232  Shrubbery  and  Trees 

When  planting  shrubs,  scatter  a  number  of  peren- 
nial hardy  flowering  plants  among  them.  These 
plants  should  be  placed  in  the  front  and  the  kind 
should  be  selected  so  as  to  contrast  with  the 
shrubbery. 

Plant  the  tallest  shrubs  in  the  rear  when  massing 
several  together,  and  let  one  variety  dominate  a 
particular  locality.  This  will  give  individuality 
to  the  neighborhood. 

Among  the  shrubs  which  give  great  satisfaction 
and  require  little  care  are: 

Wild  Roses  Sumacs  Mountain  Laurel 

Black  Alder  Pinkster  Witch  Hazel 


Before  a  shrub  or  tree  is  placed  in  its  permanent 
location  an  outline  map  of  the  area  to  be  treated 
should  be  made.  The  map  should  locate  all  exist- 
ing structures,  indicate  the  direction  in  which 
most  pleasing  outlooks  are  to  be  had,  and  also  the 
contour  of  the  ground  to  be  beautified. 

The  aim  of  trees  and  shrubbery  should  be  to  hide 
all  objectionable  buildings  and  to  shut  out  all  un- 
sightly objects  maintained  by  neighbors,  and  to 


Shrubbery  and  Trees  233 

locate  them  so  as  to  allow  an  uninterrupted  line 
of  vision  where  the  outlook  is  pleasing.  On  large 
estates,  they  should  be  placed  in  such  position  as 
will  afford  the  greatest  protection  from  the  heavy 
winds. 

The  bays  of  curved  walks  and  drives  should  be 
filled  with  groups  of  shrubs,  so  that  if  there  be 
no  natural  object  for  the  road  to  make  a  curve 
around,  the  planting  will  serve  as  a  substitute  for 
one. 

Narrow-leaved  shrubs  should  always  be  mixed  with 
the  heavy,  sombre-looking  plants.  This  will  add  cheer 
to  the  exterior  and  the  effect  will  be  most  pleasing. 
The  smaller  specimen  of  the  Siberian  pea  tree 
is  very  attractive  with  its  rather  showy  yellow 
flowers. 

All  shrubs  and  trees  should  be  especially  well  cul- 
tivated just  after  being  planted,  to  conserve  the  soil 
moisture  for  them  and  to  keep  down  the  weeds. 
All  the  sod  should  be  cut  away  within  a  few  feet 
of  all  young  trees  and  shrub  clusters  and  the  ground 
should  be  frequently  cultivated  with  a  hoe.  After 
the  trees  and  shrubs  once  shade  the  ground, 
cultivation  is  not  of  such  great  importance.  A 


234  Shrubbery  and  Trees 

deep  mulch  of  straw  or  manure  will  answer  the 
same  purpose. 

Plants  that  have  an  unusually  fine  shape,  with 
leaves,  flowers,  or  fruit  of  an  unusual  kind,  can  be 
shown  off  advantageously  by  planting  them  by  them- 
selves in  the  open.  They  should  be  planted  around 
the  edges,  along  the  driveway,  or  close  to  a  build- 
ing. The  mountain  ash,  weeping  birch,  hackberry, 
elm,  and  spiraea  are  among  those  which  will  be 
most  pleasing. 

As  fast  as  the  flowers  of  shrubs  and  perennials 
fade,  remove  them  and  let  the  strength  that  would 
go  into  the  seed  go  into  the  foliage. 

Very  few  shrubs  are  attractive  standing  alone, 
but  when  a  number  of  specimens  are  grouped 
together,  the  variety  produces  a  most  pleasing 
effect.  The  shrubs  with  an  upright  habit  and 
robust  growth  should  occupy  a  central  location 
and  the  smaller  varieties  be  graduated  from  them. 
Avoid  bare  trunks  and  stalks. 

Plan  shrubbery  so  as  to  have  a  floral  display  each 
month  of  the  year.  Glaring  contrasts  should  be 
avoided.  Know  before  planting  at  what  time  of 


Shrubbery  and  Trees  235 

the  year  the  leaves  of  each  plant  will  fall,  or 
whether  they  remain  on  all  winter.  Every  flower 
garden  should  have  some  evergreens. 

Every  landscape  gardener  should  take  Nature 
for  his  model,  and  conceal  his  own  hand  as  much  as 
possible.  Small  places  must  necessarily  be  formal, 
but  large  areas  should  have  trees  dotted  here  and 
there  and  shrubbery  massed  in  bunches  as  it  would 
be  had  it  grown  haphazard. 

In  localities  where  soil  drifts,  shrubs  and  hedges 
may  be  planted  to  break  the  force  of  the  wind  and 
prevent  drifting.  From  actual  measurements,  a 
hedge  five  feet  high  will  protect  a  field  from  wind 
damage  for  250  feet.  The  Russian  olive,  Russian 
golden  willow,  silver  berry,  silver  maple,  and  buck- 
thorn are  ornamental  as  well  as  protective. 

In  transplanting  evergreens,  do  not  allow  the 
roots  to  be  exposed  to  the  sun  or  wind  for  even  a 
minute.  A  large  ball  of  earth  should  be  left  cling- 
ing to  the  roots  of  every  plant  to  prevent  injuring 
the  root  system.  They  should  be  set  in  a  moist 
atmosphere,  or  the  soil  on  the  roots  kept  slightly 
damp  all  the  while  they  are  out  of  the  ground. 
Evergreens  not  more  than  a  foot  in  height  will 


236  Shrubbery  and  Trees; 

thrive  better  after  being  transplanted  than  larger 
plants. 

Shrubs  which  bloom  in  the  spring  or  early  summer 
should  be  pruned  immediately  after  the  flowers 
fade.  Shrubs  which  bloom  later  can  be  pruned 
in  the  spring. 

When  transplanting  evergreens  from  the  fields  or 
mountains  to  the  dooryard,  select  small  sizes  and 
those  that  have  plenty  of  room  around  them. 
Such  evergreens  are  harder  to  grow,  however,  than 
those  for  sale  by  a  good  nurseryman,  as  the  latter 
have  been  transplanted  at  least  once  and  are 
hardier. 

In  rooting  cuttings  of  evergreens,  set  the  pot  or 
box  in  which  they  are  planted  in  a  shady  place 
and  keep  the  roots  moist.  The  roots  should  be 
good  and  strong  before  transplanting. 

In  hot  weather,  if  any  shrubs  or  other  plants  appear 
to  be  about  to  succumb  to  heat  or  dryness,  several 
inches  of  the  top-soil  had  best  be  removed  from 
around  the  stem.  This  circumference  should  be 
rimmed  so  it  will  hold  water,  a  few  holes  made 
with  a  pointed  stick,  and  the  soil  well  moistened 
after  the  sun  has  gone  down.  Pour  in  water 


Shrubbery  and  Trees  237 

until  the  earth  will  soak  up  no  more.  Next,  crush 
the  lumps  which  have  been  removed  and  fill  in  the 
space,  taking  care  not  to  pack  down  the  soil. 

The  high  bush  cranberry  makes  a  beautiful  orna- 
mental shrub.  The  berries,  which  ripen  in  August 
and  September,  are  a  brilliant  red  in  color,  and  are 
often  used  for  jelly  and  jam. 

Chive  planted  around  the  flower  bed  adds  to  the 
shrubbery.  It  is  a  very  pretty  plan  and  few  stop 
to  think  of  it  as  a  common  garden  vegetable, 
and  while  it  is  grown  particularly  for  ornamental 
purposes  it  may  also  be  used  for  cooking.  Parsley 
makes  as  pretty  a  border  for  a  flower  bed  as  any 
shrub  growing. 

An  arbor -vitce  tree  is  not  only  decorative  but  its 
branches  act  as  a  splendid  preventative  of  moths 
when  packed  among  woolens  which  are  being  put 
away  for  the  summer. 

The  California  privet  and  barberry  retain  their 
foliage  all  winter.  The  barberry  has  pretty  red 
berries  at  a  season  when  color  is  in  great  demand. 

The  wild  raspberry  adds  pretty  color  to  the  land- 
scape in  the  winter.  It  is  medium  tall  and  is  not 
at  all  hard  to  grow. 


238  Shrubbery  and  Trees 

The  flowering  almond  produces  a  profusion  of 
beautiful  flowers  that  are  among  the  first  in  the 
spring  of  the  year.  It  is  best  suited  for  the  fore- 
ground of  shrubbery  clusters  near  the  house. 

The  choke  cherry  is  a  tall  coarse  shrub  and  is  very 
ornamental  when  used  for  screening  unsightly  objects. 
The  berries,  or  cherries,  furnish  excellent  food  for 
birds  and  if  they  can  get  plenty  of  them,  they  will 
not  trouble  other  plants. 

The  scarlet  sumac  does  well  in  dry  places  and  when 
planted  in  clusters  among  coarse  shrubbery  it 
shows  to  advantage.  Its  flowers  and  leaves  are 
ornamental  in  early  autumn  when  they  take  on  a 
purplish  tinge.  It  produces  ready  effects. 

The  purple  barberry  gives  a  beautiful  effect  when 
mixed  with  the  Japanese  barberry.  Its  handsome 
purple  leaves  hold  on  until  early  winter,  as  do 
the  berries,  which  follow  closely  the  pretty  yellow 
flowers.  It  also  answers  the  purpose  beautifully 
as  a  house  plant. 

Among  the  flowering  shrubs  are  the  following: 

Mock  Orange?  Lilacs  High  Bush  Cranberry 

Honeysuckle?  Spiraea  Bush  Magnolia 


Shrubbery  and  Trees  239 

Shrubs  which  afford  beautiful  color  effects  for  the 
winter  are: 

Ilax  High  Bush  Cranberry 

Buckthorn  Red  Dogwood 

Purple-Leaved  Barberry  Russian  Golden  Willow 


Shrubs  which  are  ornamental  and  which  produce 
edible  berries  for  the  birds: 

Elders  Missouri  Currant  Buffalo  Berry 

Wolf  Berry  Thorn  Apple  June  Berry 

Dwarf  Pine  Mountain  Ash  Russian  Olive 


Shrubs  forming  ornamental  hedges: 

Buckthorn        Siberian  Pea  Tree         Russian  Golden  Willow 
Red  Cedar        Barberry  Hydrangea  (summer  only) 


Some  of  the  most  desirable  of  shrubs  are  those  of 
the  heath  family.  Some  varieties  bloom  through- 
out the  winter  and  along  into  spring.  They  will 
grow  best  in  rich  soil  and  require  little  pruning; 
all  that  is  necessary  is  to  cut  out  the  stems  bearing 
the  old  flowers  after  the  flowers  have  died. 

The  flowering  currant  is  a  native  of  Calif ornia 
and  is  one  of  the  finest  shrubs  to  be  found.  Like 
most  shrubs  it  requires  a  rich,  somewhat  moist, 
though  well-drained  soil  in  order  to  make  the  best 
showing. 


240  Shrubbery  and  Trees 

The  flowering  currant  is  easily  propagated  from 
cuttings  and  the  surest  way  of  rooting  them  quickly 
is  by  bending  the  branches  to  the  ground  and 
covering  with  earth,  using  two  small  wooden  pegs 
stuck  into  the  ground,  fork-like,  for  holding  the 
branches  down.  As  soon  as  a  good  strong  root 
growth  has  started,  the  branch  should  be  cut  off 
an  inch  or  two  beyond  the  roots,  toward  the  main 
stem. 

Among  the  shrubs  that  should  be  pruned  just  after 
blossoming  are  the  spirceas,  jessamines,  and  for- 
sythias.  To  prune  them  in  the  fall  means  that 
the  branches  which  are  to  bear  flowers  the  follow- 
ing spring  will  be  cut  away.  When  pruned  just 
after  flowering  in  the  spring,  they  have  a  whole 
year  in  which  to  grow  more  shoots. 

In  procuring  shrubs  from  cuttings,  the  cuttings 
should  be  taken  from  firm  growth  which  has 
blossomed.  There  should  always  be  a  joint,  or 
several,  on  the  cutting,  and  it  should  be  placed 
to  root  in  a  pot  of  sandy  soil. 

If  shrubbery  cuttings  are  placed  in  paper  cups  and 
set  in  the  cold  frame,  with  sash  closed,  the  root 
system  will  start  its  growth  quickly.  No  watering 


Shrubbery  and  Trees  241 

is  necessary  though  the  cuttings  should  be  syringed 
daily,  and  the  sun  should  not  be  permitted  to  shine 
directly  on  the  cold  frame. 

A  young  hedge  should  be  trimmed  three  times  dur- 
ing the  first  year  to  induce  plenty  of  lateral  growth. 
Each  year  thereafter,  it  should  be  trimmed  twice, 
once  in  the  early  spring  and  again  in  the  late 
summer  or  early  fall. 

Keep  the  heavy  snow  knocked  off  the  flower  bushes 
and  shrubbery  or  they  may  break  from  being  over- 
weighted. 

Trees 

Small  places,  consisting  of  an  acre  or  less,  situ- 
ated close  to  others  of  like  dimensions,  can  only 
be  appropriately  improved  in  a  formal  style.  Large 
suburban  places  or  country  seats  should,  in  order 
to  maintain  unity  and  harmony  with  their  sur- 
roundings, be  treated  in  the  natural  style. 

Plant  a  tree  every  year! 

Late  in  March  is  a  good  time  to  prune  trees. 

A  tree  that  everyone  may  have  at  little  or  no 
cost  is  the  wild  black  hawthorn,  or  Viburnum.  Its 

16 


242  Shrubbery  and  Trees 

foliage,  flower,  and  fruit  all  are  lovely.  They 
flourish  in  the  woods  from  Florida  to  Maine  and 
live  to  be  from  fifty  to  a  hundred  years  old. 

In  moving  a  large  tree:  First,  dig  around  the  tree, 
preferably  when  the  ground  is  frozen,  and  take  up 
a  large  clump  of  dirt.  Make  a  wooden  standard 
of  three  straight  pieces  of  wood  of  the  same  length, 
nailed  together  in  the  form  of  a  square  with  one 
side  off,  and  place  this  against  the  tree,  tying  it 
to  the  trunk,  after  first  having  wrapped  the  tree 
with  thick  cloth  to  prevent  bruising.  Tie  a  rope 
to  the  corners  of  the  standard,  and  fasten  another 
rope  in  this  loop.  At  the  other  end  of  the  second 
rope,  hitch  a  horse,  or  if  an  extremely  large  tree, 
two  horses,  and  they  will  easily  raise  the  tree. 
There  should  be  ready  a  stoneboat  or  wooden 
platform  on  rollers  on  which  the  tree  should  at 
once  be  hauled,  loosening  as  little  dirt  as  possible. 
It  can  then  be  carried  easily  to  the  new  location. 
Dig  a  hole  sufficiently  large  for  the  roots  to  spread 
out,  set  the  tree  in  place  and  pack  the  earth  down 
tightly.  Trim  the  branches  to  keep  it  from  blow- 
ing over  from  top-heaviness,  and  anchor  it  by  tying 
heavy  wires  to  four  sides  and  fastening  them  to 
pegs  driven  into  the  ground.  Water  the  tree 
several  times  during  the  first  two  summers,  by 


Shrubbery  and  Trees  243 

driving  an  iron  tubing  into  the  ground  near  the 
roots  (taking  care  that  it  does  not  strike  the  root, 
if  possible)  and  pouring  water  down  this. 

Trees  planted  in  the  fall  should  be  given  a  thor- 
ough watering  so  the  roots  will  not  dry  out  over 
winter  and  in  order  to  anchor  the  trees  in  the 
ground,  as  the  water  freezes  the  roots  and  helps 
in  avoiding  injury  from  the  wind  by  swaying. 

Trees  planted  in  the  fall,  the  best  season  for 
planting  them,  should  be  given  a  mulch  of  leaves 
or  coarse  manure  as  a  protection  during  the  winter. 

The  oak  is  perhaps  the  most  wonderful  of  all  trees. 
Every  person  who  plants  an  oak  and  tends  it  until 
a  good  growth  is  started  is  doing  a  great  service  to 
the  next  generation.  The  maple,  too,  is  a  splendid 
tree,  but  it  is  not  so  hardy  as  the  sturdy  oak,  as 
it  becomes  injured  so  much  easier.  They  are, 
however,  much  more  rapid  growers  than  the  oaks. 

The  American  elm  is  valuable  both  for  street  and 
ornamental  planting.  It  grows  rapidly  and  is  one 
of  the  most  graceful  trees  native  to  our  forests. 

The  ashes  are  of  rapid  growth  and  have  clean  foli- 
age, They  have  one  drawback  and  that  is  they 


244  Shrubbery  and  Trees 

produce  great  quantities  of  seed  which  in  turn 
produce  a  crop  of  weedy  seedlings  upon  the  lawn. 

Lindens  are  immensely  satisfactory  in  the  coun- 
try but  will  not  long  endure  the  privations  of 
street  life  in  cities.  It  is  prized  as  a  honey  plant 
and  for  its  timber. 

In  planting  trees,  place  them  in  a  location  where 
they  will  not  cast  a  shadow  on  flowers  which  re- 
quire sunlight.  Make  due  allowance,  also,  for  the 
growth  of  the  branches  when  they  will  shadow  all 
nearby  plants. 

The  crab  apple  is  a  very  ornamental  tree  and 
bears  a  fruit  which  is  much  desired  for  jelly.  Its 
flowers  are  borne  late  in  May.  It  stands  exposure 
well  and  will  grow  in  almost  any  soil,  though  good 
drainage  should  be  assured.  It  should  be  watched 
closely  in  the  early  spring  for  insects  and  if  any 
appear,  a  thorough  spraying  with  Bordeaux  mix- 
ture should  be  given. 

Spruces  should  never  be  overlooked  when  selecting 
trees.  They  will  grow  under  almost  any  condition 
of  soil  and  climate  and  their  rich  green  color  and 
graceful  habit  make  them  a  most  desirable  ever- 
green, 


Shrubbery  and  Trees  245 

The  bright  foliage  of  the  Irish  juniper,  and  the 
rapidity  with  which  it  grows  makes  it  a  very  popu- 
lar tree  for  the  garden. 

The  hemlock  is  adapted  to  a  very  moist  soil  and  a 
somewhat  shady  location,  and  when  trimmed  regu- 
larly it  makes  a  beautiful  hedge  or  border  plant. 

The  tree  of  heaven  is  of  Chinese  origin  and  will 
thrive  in  a  great  variety  of  soils.  It  grows  very 
rapidly  in  a  good  loamy  soil,  and  the  leaves  will 
often  reach  a  length  of  three  or  four  feet.  It 
should  be  given  plenty  of  room  and  should  be 
planted  in  a  location  where  sunlight  is  not  needed 
for  small  plants. 

The  shoots  which  appear  near  the  ground  on  the 
tree  of  heaven  may  be  used  as  cuttings  and  rooted 
to  produce  other  trees.  New  shoots  will  produce 
finer  leaves  than  older  trees.  Trees  should  be 
pruned  every  second  year  while  young  and  the 
trees  trained  to  the  desired  shape  at  pruning  time. 

The  tulip  tree  is  a  beautiful  flowering  tree  which 
should  be  planted  in  loamy,  well-drained  soil.  It 
should  be  carefully  pruned  while  young  in  order 
to  make  a  pretty,  graceful  tree.  It  grows,  under 


246  Shrubbery  and  Trees 

favorable  conditions,  to  be  a  very  large  tree,  often 
reaching  one  hundred  feet  in  height. 

Alternate  freezing  and  thawing  of  the  bark  of  young 
trees  in  the  early  spring  is  likely  to  cause  sun- 
scald.  The  injury  generally  appears  on  the  south 
side  of  the  trunk  in  the  form  of  brown  blisters  or 
black  bark  which  decays  and  falls  off,  leaving  the 
wood  exposed. 

One  very  effective  method  of  preventing  sun-scald 
on  the  young  trees  is  to  bind  a  wide  board  on  the 
south  side  of  the  trunk  to  protect  it  from  the  hot 
rays  of  the  afternoon  sun. 

When  the  bark  on  trees  has  become  hard,  it  should 
be  softened  by  washing  it  in  the  early  spring  with 
a  strong  solution  of  soapsuds,  lye,  or  whitewash, 
which  may  be  applied  with  a  paint  brush  or  an 
old  broom.  A  child's  toy  broom  will  answer  splen- 
didly, being  easy  to  handle. 

San  Jose  scale  may  be  detected  by  the  appearance 
of  innumerable  small  specks  of  a  light  gray  shade. 
They  can  be  removed  by  means  of  the  finger  nail 
and  they  usually  appear  on  young  shoots. 

To  follow  the  planting  of  either  deciduous  or  co- 
niferous trees  in  the  extremes  is  not  attractive.  An 


Shrubbery  and  Trees  247 

intermingling  of  evergreens  with  the  deciduous 
trees  is  very  effective,  and  a  mixutre  of  conifers 
with  deciduous  trees  will  make  screening  very 
dense.  Conifers  carry  an  expression  of  warmth 
and  life  and  are  beautiful  after  the  snow  has 
fallen  on  them. 

Deciduous  trees  can  be  planted  to  advantage  dur- 
ing the  months  of  April  and  May,  and  evergreens 
as  late  as  June,  though  September  and  October 
are  the  best  months.  A  young  tree  should  be 
planted  a  few  inches  deeper  than  it  stood  before 
transplanting. 

In  mamifacturing  communities  where  there  is  a 
great  deal  of  smoke  it  is  best  to  plant  those  trees 
which  will  survive  these  trying  conditions.  Some 
very  adaptable  trees  are  the  Norway  maples, 
ashes,  and  poplars. 

For  seaside  use,  the  pin  oak,  ash,  poplar,  and 
Norway  maple  are  advisable. 

Plane  trees,  lindens,  or  horse  chestnuts  should  not 
be  placed  in  a  position  where  they  will  be  much 
exposed.  They  are  not  over  hardy. 


248  Shrubbery  and  Trees 

Apple  trees  for  shade  trees  along  the  roadside  are 
both  beautiful  in  flower  and  edible  in  fruit,  and  to 
plant  fruit  trees  for  shade  shows  a  disposition 
toward  benefiting  humanity. 

Nut  trees  require  a  very  deep,  rich,  and  well- 
drained  soil. 

In  transplanting  a  tree  more  than  eight  feet  high, 
the  tops  should  be  pruned  before  the  tree  is  planted. 
This  will  balance  the  branching  and  root  systems 
and  will  promote  a  symmetrical  development  of 
the  tree.  The  elm  is  an  exception  to  this  rule. 
All  bruised  or  broken  roots  should  be  cut  off  clean 
with  a  knife  before  the  tree  is  planted. 

Elms  should  be  planted  not  less  than  forty  feet 
apart  to  give  the  best  results.  Maples  can  be 
planted  as  close  as  twenty -five  feet,  while  lindens, 
catalpas,  or  poplars  may  have  the  space  reduced 
to  twenty  feet,  or  in  special  cases  to  even  less. 

When  rows  of  trees  are  to  be  planted  on  the  borders 
of  the  yard  opposite  the  windbreak,  it  will  be  desir- 
able to  plow  and  summer  fallow  strips  of  land  at 
least  ten  feet  wide  here. 


Shrubbery  and  Trees  249 

When  purchasing  trees  for  planting,  and  they 
come  from  a  distance,  it  is  best  to  soak  the  roots 
in  fresh  water  for  twenty-four  hours  before  plant- 
ing. They  should  be  kept  in  a  cool,  shady  place  or 
stored  in  the  cellar  if  they  are  not  too  large. 

For  protection  and  quick  shade  there  is  nothing 
better  than  the  poplar.  They  are  extremely  hardy 
and  when  planted  with  other  trees  which  are  more 
slow-growing  may  be  taken  out  easily  when  the 
permanent  trees  have  grown  sufficiently  large 
and  transplanted  to  another  location. 

The  black  walnut  is  a  beautiful  flowering  tree 
and  does  well  when  planted  on  rich,  moist  soil,  espe- 
cially near  a  stream.  The  trees  are  beautiful,  the 
nuts  edible,  and  the  wood  very  valuable.  Ten 
years  is  the  length  of  time  for  it  to  mature. 

The  yellow  wood  tree  is  native  to  the  region  of 
Tennessee  and  Kentucky  and  is  a  very  desirable 
tree  for  the  yard.  Its  leaves  turn  to  a  pretty 
yellow  in  the  fall  and  the  flower  is  beautiful  in  a 
bouquet.  It  grows  moderately  fast,  is  free  from 
disease,  and  makes  no  objectionable  litter  on  the 
lawn. 


250  Shrubbery  and  Trees 

The  hardy  catalpa  is  valuable  from  an  orna- 
mental standpoint  ^and  produces  very  valuable 
timber. 

The  horse  chestnut  is  a  very  hardy  tree  and  its 
flowers  are  unusually  beautiful,  though  it  makes  a 
great  deal  of  litter  during  the  autumn  and  has  to 
be  guarded  carefully  from  disease. 


INSECTS  AND  SPRAYS 

THE  first  requisite  in  spraying  flowers,  vines, 
shrubbery,  and  trees  for  bugs  and  worms  is  to  know 
what  variety  of  pest  you  are  trying  to  eliminate. 
To  use  some  one  spray  as  a  general  insecticide  is 
practically  a  waste  of  time.  What  is  poison  to  one 
bug  may  be  food  to  another.  So,  first,  know  what 
it  is  you  are  trying  to  kill  and  then  learn  what  it  is 
that  will  kill  it.  A  local  florist  may  not  always 
give  correct  advice  as  to  a  solution.  If  he  has  one 
or  two  good  insecticides,  he  may  suggest  them  as 
being  valuable  for  all  nuisances.  Sometimes  this 
advice  may  be  through  ignorance,  for  not  all 
flower-sellers  are  flower-culturists,  but  more  often 
it  is  through  the  desire  to  sell  his  product  and 
he  is  willing  for  you  and  your  plants  to  take  the 
risk. 

Certain  small  insects  such  as  scale  often  do  a 
great  deal  of  harm  before  the  amateur  gardener 
realizes  that  the  plant  is  not  thriving  or  before  he 
has  any  idea  what  the  trouble  can  be.  Any  un- 

251 


252  Insects  and  Sprays 

natural-looking  growth  on  a  plant  should  be  looked 
after  at  once.  Although  it  may  not  prove  to  be 
an  insect,  it  has  no  place  there  and  cannot  be  bene- 
ficial to  the  plant. 

Insects  cannot  always  be  gotten  rid  of  by  one 
spraying.  It  sometimes  requires  patience  and 
persistency  but  when  they  have  attacked  a  plant 
it  means  eventually  either  the  death  of  the  plant 
or  the  death  of  the  insect,  and  patience  and  per- 
sistency will  have  their  reward. 

There  are  two  classes  of  insects — the  sucking 
insect  which  draws  the  sap  out  of  the  plant,  and 
the  chewing  insect  which  does  what  its  name  indi- 
cates and  eats  the  leaves  and  stems.  The  sucking 
insects  hide  under  the  branches  and  leaves  and  are 
sometimes  difficult  to  detect.  Hence  a  complete 
examination  should  be  made  when  pests  are 
suspected. 

When  spraying  for  insects,  the  spraying  should 
be  done  thoroughly,  for  only  that  part  of  the  plant 
which  the  spraying  has  touched  is  protected  and 
made  immune.  A  half-hearted  spraying  will  do 
little  or  no  good  for  though  some  may  be  killed, 
the  remaining  ones  will  multiply  rapidly. 

Clean  plants  are  not  as  likely  to  be  attacked  by 
insects  as  sooty,  dusty  plants,  and  the  reason  is 
obvious.  In  keeping  plants  clean  they  become 


Insects  and  Sprays  253 

more  familiar  to  one  and  even  the  less  noticeable 
pests  will  soon  be  detected.  Old  rubbish,  such  as 
dead  plants,  vines,  and  fallen  leaves,  should  not  be 
permitted  to  lie  around  in  piles.  They  not  only 
serve  as  protection  and  food  for  bugs  which  will 
infest  your  own  flowers,  but  they  will  make  jour- 
neys to  your  neighbor's  garden  as  well.  Any  un- 
clean refuse  also  aids  in  hibernating  certain  kinds 
of  worms  hence  the  stable  yard  should  be  cleaned 
daily.  When  it  is  impossible  for  the  young  gar- 
dener to  determine  just  what  insect  is  attacking  his 
plants  he  should  gather  a  sample  by  picking  off 
the  leaf  on  which  the  insect  is  working  and  take  it 
to  a  bug  expert,  or  if  this  is  not  practical,  some  bugs 
may  be  knocked  off  the  bush  or  vine  into  a  pail  or 
other  tin  and  be  carried  to  an  experienced  gardener 
for  classification.  It  would  be  impossible  in  the 
space  devoted  to  this  subject  to  give  a  list  and 
general  description  of  even  the  most  common  of 
insects.  A  number  of  suggestions  for  getting  rid 
of  many  of  them,  and  the  sprays  which  have  proven 
effective  in  the  work,  are  listed  below: 

All  house  plants  should  be  examined  daily  for 
insects,  and  all  garden  plants  every  three  or  four  days 
at  least.  Some  insects  are  so  minute  that  a  very 
careful  inspection  will  be  necessary.  Not  only 


254  Insects  and  Sprays 

the  stems  and  top  of  leaves  should  be  examined, 
but  the  under  side  of  the  leaves  and  the  petals  of 
flowers  also  should  have  a  careful  inspection. 

Insects  are  divided  into  two  classes  with  reference 
to  their  manner  of  working  on  plants:  I.  Insects 
which  eat  the  leaves,  petals,  and  stems  of  plants; 
2.  Insects  which  suck  the  sap  from  the  plant  and 
thus  cause  its  death. 

Stone  lime  added  to  arsenate  of  lead  and  Paris 
green  will  usually  prevent  the  foliage  from  becoming 
burned  from  the  poisons.  These  poisons  should 
never  be  used  on  plants  which  are  within  the  reach 
of  children,  and  adults  should  carefully  wash  their 
hands  after  coming  in  contact  with  the  plants. 

Plant  louse  can  be  controlled  by  spraying  the 
plants  on  which  they  are  found  with  strong  soap- 
suds  made  by  boiling  half  a  pound  of  strong,  yellow 
laundry  soap  in  a  gallon  of  water.  The  soap 
should  be  shredded  before  putting  into  the  water 
or  it  will  take  a  long  while  for  it  to  dissolve. 

Black  leaf  40,  purchasable  at  almost  any  florist's 
or  seedsman's,  diluted  in  proportion  to  one  part 
black  leaf  to  800  parts  of  water  is  very  efficacious 
in  getting  rid  of  plant  louse. 


Insects  and  Sprays  255 

Fungus  diseases  can  usually  be  controlled  by 
spraying  with  Bordeaux  mixture  (see  index).  The 
number  of  sprays  will  be  determined  by  the  crop 
of  insects,  the  weather,  and  other  conditions. 
Usually  from  three  to  five  sprays  will  be  sufficient. 

When  a  plant  is  suffering  from  a  bacterial  disease, 
i.  e.,  a  disease  caused  by  the  multiplication  of 
bacteria  in  the  water  canals  of  a  plant,  the  diseased 
plant  should  be  pulled  up  and  destroyed  that  the 
disease  may  not  be  spread  to  other  plants.  Burn- 
ing is  the  only  safe  method  of  destruction.  The 
plant  should  not  be  allowed  to  touch  other  plants 
when  taking  it  from  the  garden. 

Insects  that  suck  a  plant  can  nearly  always  be 
destroyed  by  spraying  with  a  strong  solution  of 
nicotine.  This  is  made  by  boiling  a  pound  of  plug 
or  smoking  tobacco  in  two  gallons  of  water,  or  by 
soaking  it  for  twenty-four  hours  in  cold  or  luke- 
warm water.  Boiling  extracts  all  of  the  strength, 
however. 

Worms  on  plants  will  usually  be  suffocated  by 
dusting  the  plant  with  Persian  insect  powder  mixed 
with  lime  in  the  proportion  of  one  ounce  of  pow- 
der to  four  ounces  of  lime.  This  should  be  used 
several  times  during  the  course  of  a  week. 


256  Insects  and  Sprays 

Worms  and  bugs  hibernate  in  old  rubbish,  in 
dead  vines  and  bushes,  hence  the  garden  should  be 
kept  clean  and  free  from  all  dead  and  unsightly 
bushes  and  rubbish. 

Tent  caterpillars  are  among  the  most  annoying 
insects  and  they  multiply  very  rapidly.  No  chance 
should  be  lost  to  kill  one. 

A  cold-water  spray  two  or  three  times  a  day  will 
be  all  that  is  necessary  to  get  rid  of  the  little  red  spider 
which  forms  tiny  webs  on  the  under  side  of  the 
leaves  of  plants.  These  little  insects  are  very 
tiny,  resembling  specks  of  red  pepper,  and  they 
dislike  moisture  strongly. 

Palms,  ivy,  oleander,  and  other  plants  are  often 
badly  attacked  by  scale,  which  sucks  the  life  out 
of  the  plant.  A  good  emulsion  for  ridding  a  plant 
of  this  scale  is  made  as  follows: 

Dissolve  a  bar  of  laundry  soap  in  a  gallon  of 
water,  and  bring  the  water  to  a  boil.  Add  a  half- 
pint  of  kerosene  and  a  gill  of  tobacco  extract, 
(made  by  boiling  plug  or  smoking  tobacco  in 
water).  Apply  several  times  if  necessary. 

Spade  or  harrow  the  garden  well  in  the  fall  if  the 
plants  have  been  infected  with  insects.  Turn  chick- 


Insects  and  Sprays  257 

ens  in  and  let  them  eat  the  insects  as  the  ground  is 
turned  over. 

In  spraying  for  insects,  be  sure  to  spray  into  the 
flower  or  cluster  of  flowers,  as  it  is  there  that  so 
many  tiny  insects  hide. 

The  root  aphis  often  attacks  asters,  doing  a  great 
deal  of  damage  which  the  amateur  does  not  always 
detect  until  too  late.  If  the  soil  is  watered  occa- 
sionally with  nicotine  solution  (see  index),  it  will 
keep  this  pest  away.  When  planting  asters,  it  is 
a  wise  precaution  to  put  a  handful  of  tobacco  dust 
in  the  soil  around  the  plant. 

Begin  spraying  plants  early  in  the  season  and 
many  insects  will  be  warded  off.  Particularly 
rose  bushes  should  be  sprayed  early  as  their  worst 
enemies  always  come  at  the  beginning  of  the  season. 

When  mice  are  eating  the  roots  of  bulbs  or  other 
plants,  bury  ashes  in  the  ground  near.  Ashes 
should  not  come  in  direct  contact  with  the  roots  of 
bulbs,  however. 

Caterpillars  are  easily  seen  and  the  best  practice 
in  destroying  them  is  to  pick  them  off  the  bushes  by 
hand  and  drop  them  into  a  tin  pail  preparatory  to 

17 


258  Insects  and  Sprays 

burning  them.     They  do  an  immense  amount  of 
damage  to  plant  life  in  a  very  short  while 

Wireworm  is  one  of  the  most  troublesome  of  pests. 
These  worms  bore  into  the  stem  of  the  plants  below 
the  surface  of  the  ground,  hence  their  damage  is 
not  easily  detected.  Common  salt  mixed  with  the 
earth  will  often  kill  them,  but  it  should  not  be 
permitted  to  touch  either  the  branches  or  the  roots 
of  the  plant  or  it  may  prove  fatal.  Nitrate  of  soda 
is  often  used  in  getting  rid  of  them. 

Bordeaux  mixture,  which  contains  arsenic,  makes 
a  good  spray  for  plants  infested  with  caterpillars. 
These  troublesome  pests  bite  off  the  leaves  of 
plants  and  are  easily  detected.  Spraying  may 
have  to  be  given  three  or  four  times  but  it  is 
either  spray  or  give  up  the  plant 

The  green  aphis  which  so  often  attacks  house  plants 
may  be  controlled  by  spraying  with  a  nicotine  solu- 
tion. This  can  be  purchased  at  the  florist's  or 
made  at  home  by  boiling  a  pound  of  plug  or  smok- 
ing tobacco  in  a  gallon  of  water. 

Lime-sulphur  should  be  used  on  trees  which  are 
covered  with  a  thick,  hard  scale  or  shell.  These 
scales  are  very  tiny  indeed  but  they  do  an  immense 
amount  of  damage.  The  lime-sulphur  should  be 


Insects  and  Sprays  259 

used  only  in  the  winter  when  the  leaves  have 
fallen.  This  is  a  strong  spray  and  will  injure  tender 
vegetation. 

Sweet  peas  should  be  closely  watched  for  aphis  and 
when  any  is  discovered,  spray  the  vines  with  a 
strong  solution  of  yellow  soap  and  water,  or  spray 
with  nicotine  solution  made  by  soaking  smoking 
tobacco  in  cold  water  for  twenty-four  hours  or  by 
boiling  it  in  water  for  a  couple  of  hours.  Apply 
when  cold. 

Aphides  or  green  flies  may  be  removed  from  house 
plants  by  smoking  them  with  tobacco  smoke.  A 
few  glowing  coals  should  be  placed  on  an  iron 
shovel  or  in  a  pan,  and  tobacco  spread  over  them. 
The  coals  should  be  smothered  so  they  will  smoke 
but  not  blaze. 

Either  a  solution  of  whale-oil  soap  or  a  thorough 
spraying  with  nicotine  solution  will  drive  the  lice 
from  rosebushes.  The  solutions  should  be  applied 
early  before  the  lice  are  hidden  by  the  curl  of  the 
leaves.  The  solution  must  hit  the  lice  in  order 
to  kill  them. 

Slugs  can  be  removed  only  by  picking  them  off. 

Choice  rosebushes  should  be  protected  from  bugs 
when  they  are  particularly  prevalent  by  covering 


260  Insects  and  Sprays 

with  mosquito  netting.  If  this  netting  is  dyed 
green,  instead  of  using  plain  white,  the  beauty  of 
the  rose  can  more  easily  be  seen. 

The  army  worm  which  can  cause  so  much  havoc 
in  such  a  short  period  of  time  is  a  smooth,  striped 
caterpillar  about  an  inch  and  a  quarter  in  length, 
and  rather  dark  in  appearance.  The  moth  from 
which  it  hatches  is  brown  with  white  spots  on  the 
wings.  The  most  practical  way  to  stop  their  pro- 
gress in  order  to  destroy  them  is  to  dig  a  furrow  in 
front  of  their  path  and  let  them  fall  into  it  and 
pour  kerosene  on  them.  If  they  are  already  in  a 
field,  mix  one  pound  of  Paris  green  with  fifty  pounds 
of  wheat  bran  and  the  juice  of  half  a  dozen  oranges. 
Mix  this  with  molasses  to  form  a  dough  and  scatter 
it  about.  They  breed  usually  in  rank  grass  or 
over-fertilized  fields.  Do  not  let  this  be  put  where 
children  can  get  at  it. 

Wasps  may  be  destroyed  by  placing  a  gallon  jug 
containing  a  quart  of  water  near  the  nest.  The 
wasps  will  fly  angrily  at  the  jug,  the  hollow  sound 
of  its  buzzing  echoing  from  the  jug  will  make  it 
enter  the  jug  and  fall  into  the  water.  Wasps  call  to 
each  other  and  where  one  goes  the  others  follow. 
Paris  green  distributed  on  minced  meat  is  poison- 


Insects  and  Sprays  261 

ous  to  them,  but  this  is  a  deadly  poison  to  humans 
as  well  and  should  be  carefully  handled. 

Spores  and  germs  of  diseases  live  in  the  soil 
when  plowed  under,  so  use  the  precaution  of  rak- 
ing up  and  burning  all  dead  vines,  etc.  Rotation 
is  another  means  of  checking  the  ravages  of  insects 
and  diseases. 

The  standard  remedy  for  San  Jose  scale  is 
lime-sulphur.  If  this  cannot  be  procured  at  your 
dealer's,  slake  22  Ibs.  of  fresh  lime,  using  just 
enough  water  to  cover  the  lime.  Add  17  Ibs.  of 
sulphur  which  has  been  mixed  to  a  paste  with 
water.  Boil  for  an  hour  in  10  gallons  of  water, 
using  an  iron  vessel.  Add  enough  water  to  make 
50  gallons  and  strain  through  wire  netting. 

Motor  goggles  should  be  worn  when  spraying 
trees  or  high  shrubbery  to  protect  the  eyes,  otherwise 
serious  trouble  may  result. 

When  the  apple  blossoms  begin  to  fall,  the  fruit- 
grower should  begin  to  spray.  When  the  calyx 
lobes  close  a  couple  of  weeks  later,  the  spraying 
should  stop. 

The  little  brown  slug  that  eats  the  foliage  of 
cherry,  plum,  and  pear  trees  in  the  summer-time  is 


262  Insects  and  Sprays 

not  difficult  to  control.  It  can  be  destroyed  by 
spraying  with  two  ounces  of  hellebore  in  one  gallon 
of  water. 

Pine-mice  destroy  fruit  trees,  attacking  below  the 
surface  and  their  deadly  work  is  not  discovered 
sometimes  before  the  tree  is  dead.  Bury  a  little 
poisoned  bran  (mixed  with  Paris  green)  near  the 
tree  but  not  on  the  roots. 

Pools  of  water  in  which  lilies  are  raised  should 
always  contain  one  or  more  fish  to  eat  the  mos- 
quito larva.  Goldfish  will  add  materially  to  the 
appearance  of  the  pool  as  well  as  serve  as  protectors 
to  human  beings. 

In  localities  badly  infested  with  mosquitoes  heavy 
vines  should  not  be  planted  too  near  the  house. 
They  serve  as  hiding-places  for  mosquitoes  and  the 
pests  will  breed  rapidly. 

Fresh  pyrethrum  powder  placed  around  flower 
pots  will  be  the  means  of  destroying  many  house 
centipedes.  This  worm  eats  flies,  but  even  so,  he 
is  not  particularly  attractive  and  agreeable  to  have 
around. 

Fresh  manure  laying  around  in  piles  will  be  the 
means  of  breeding  any  quantity  of  flies.  To 


Insects  and  Sprays  263 

sprinkle  it  with  powdered  hellebore,  half  a  pound 
dissolved  in  ten  gallons  of  water,  will  destroy  the 
majority  of  the  larvae. 

Paris  green  sprinkled  over  chopped  meat  and 
placed  near  a  wasp's  nest  will  mean  certain  death  to 
all  that  eat  it.  This  is  a  deadly  poison  to  human 
beings  as  well. 

s. 

Once  a  year,  preferably  in  the  spring  when  the 
plants  are  taken  out,  tobacco  extract  should  be 
burned  in  the  greenhouse  to  fumigate  it.  If  there  is 
any  doubt  as  to  insects  being  prevalent  in  the  fall, 
another  fumigation  should  take  place  before  the 
plants  go  back  for  the  winter. 

Six  ounces  of  sulphur  for  every  one  thousand 
cubic  feet  is  an  excellent  disinfectant  for  insects. 
The  greenhouse  should  be  closed  tight  and  all 
cracks  stopped  up,  first  having  removed  the  plants. 

Angleworms  are  a  friend  to  the  gardener.  They 
help  to  cultivate  plants  by  their  burrowing  and 
they  make  humus  by  drawing  leaves  and  plants 
into  their  holes  and  burying  it.  Hence  angle- 
worms also  should  be  insured  a  long  life. 

Poisoned  bran  scattered  on  the  ground  near  plants 
which  are  infected  with  cutworms  will  soon  cause 


264  Insects  and  Sprays 

the  death  of  many  of  them.  Here,  again,  caution 
should  be  exercised  that  the  poison  may  not  come 
in  contact  with  children  or  with  adults  who  are 
ignorant  of  its  presence. 

When  a  greenhouse  has  been  infected  with  insects 
all  good  plants  should  be  taken  out  and  the  house 
thoroughly  disinfected.  Burning  six  ounces  of 
sulphur  to  every  one  thousand  cubic  feet  of  space 
and  keeping  the  house  tightly  closed  for  twenty- 
four  hours  will  destroy  any  insects.  Any  plants 
infected  should  be  destroyed,  and  this  can  be  done 
by  leaving  them  in  the  greenhouse  when  the  dis- 
infecting is  being  done. 

Hydrocyanic  gas  is  a  most  dangerous  fumigant 
and  should  never  be  used  except  by  experts. 

Tobacco  extract  can  be  procured  at  almost  any 
dealer's  and  is  safe  and  satisfactory  to  use  as  a  dis- 
infectant. It  should  be  burned  once  every  spring 
in  the  greenhouse  as  it  is  very  effective  in  destroying 
plant  lice.  The  plants  should  be  taken  out  first. 

The  mealy-bug  is  a  soft,  white  bug  with  a  cottony 
appearance.  It  usually  attacks  plants  which  have 
soft  wood  stems  and  the  plants  should  be  sprayed 
with  kerosene  emulsion.  (See  index.) 


Insects  and  Sprays  265 

Rose  bugs  may  be  sprayed  with  arsenate  of  lead 
solution  (see  index),  but  the  most  effective  way  of 
getting  rid  of  them  is  to  take  them  off  by  hand, 
knocking  them  into  a  pail  of  kerosene  emulsion  by 
means  of  a  wooden  spoon  or  paddle. 

Arsenate  of  lead  solution,  hellebore,  or  Paris 
green  are  effective  in  destroying  caterpillars. 

A  little  nitrate  of  soda  worked  into  the  surface 
of  the  earth  will  invigorate  plants  which  have 
had  a  setback  from  being  attacked  by  borers,  root- 
maggots,  or  other  insects. 

To  exterminate  chickweed  which  becomes  such  a 
nuisance  when  it  once  gets  a  good  start,  spray  with 
a  solution  of  sulphate  of  iron  by  means  of  a  hand 
sprayer 

The  following  remedies  are  effective  in  getting 
rid  of  blight,  mildew,  leaf -spot,  and  rust: 

Bordeaux  mixture 

Lime-sulphur 

Ammoniacal  solution  of  copper  carbonate 

The  fly  should  be  swatted  before  he  becomes  a 
fly.  They  breed  readily  in  manure  and  the  manure 
should  be  treated  with  borax,  a  heaping  pint  meas- 
ure of  borax  to  every  eight  bushels  of  manure. 


266  Insects  and  Sprays 

The  borax  should  be  applied  with  a  flour  sifter  or 
other  sieve  and  two  or  three  gallons  of  water 
should  be  sprinkled  over  the  manure  after  it  has 
been  treated  with  the  borax. 

Sprinkling  manure  with  a  solution  of  half  a 
pound  of  powdered  hellebore  dissolved  in  ten 
gallons  of  water  will  destroy  from  eighty-five 
to  ninety  per  cent,  of  the  larva  or  maggots  which 
produce  flies. 

In  sprinkling  large  quantities  of  manure  with 
borax  it  should  not  be  used  in  greater  quantity 
than  fifteen  tons  to  the  acre  or  damage  to  the 
vegetables  to  which  the  manure  is  applied  may 
result. 

To  control  the  Hessian  fly,  try  burning  all 
stubble  and  clearing  all  refuse  from  damp  places. 

To  destroy  the  small  black  fly  which  feeds  on  the 
pear  and  cherry  trees,  spray  the  trees  with  arsenate 
of  lead  in  water,  in  the  proportion  of  two  pounds 
of  the  poison  to  fifty  gallons  of  water.  If  the  ap- 
plication is  not  made  until  the  fruit  is  well  under 
way,  it  will  be  safer  to  use  white  hellebore  instead 
of  arsenate  of  lead. 

One  disadvantage  in  using  Bordeaux  mixture 
is  that  it  discolors  the  foliage  and  causes  the  fruits 


Insects  and  Sprays  267 

to  have  a  russet  appearance,  hence  whenever  pos- 
sible it  should  be  used  before  the  foliage  has  a  good 
start.  Lime-sulphur  can  often  be  substituted  for 
Bordeaux  mixture. 

Ar senate  of  lead  or  Paris  green  can  be  used  with 
Bordeaux  mixture  or  lime-sulphur  sprays  thus  mak- 
ing a  combined  fungicide  and  insecticide  treat- 
ment. Both  of  these  sprays  are  poisonous  and 
should  be  kept  out  of  the  reach  of  children. 

There  is  no  danger  from  burning  the  foliage  with 
ar senate  of  lead  nor  will  it  wash  off  when  the  rain 
pours  on  it.  It  may  be  purchased  in  either  paste 
or  powder  form  and  may  be  used  as  a  dry  powder 
or  made  into  a  solution  according  to  the  directions 
which  accompany  each  package. 

When  the  cucumber  beetle  attacks  vines,  spray 
with  Bordeaux  mixture  or  ar  senate  of  lead  solu- 
tion. Tobacco  dust  sprinkled  over  the  vines  will 
tend  to  keep  these  bugs  away. 

Arsenate  of  lead  should  be  used  as  a  spray  when 
asters  are  attacked  by  the  aster  beetle.  Many  of 
these  bugs  can  be  picked  off  by  hand  and  they 
should  be  dropped  in  kerosene  emulsion  at  once. 


268  Insects  and  Sprays 

The  toad  is  the  gardener's  best  friend.  Never 
kill  one.  In  three  months  he  will  devour  ten 
thousand  insects,  among  which  are  beetles,  worms, 
snails,  spiders,  grasshoppers,  crickets,  weevils,  moths, 
caterpillars,  wasps,  yellow-jackets,  ants,  and  others. 
It  never  eats  food  without  life.  It  can  live  two 
years  without  eating  but  cannot  live  long  under 
water,  and  it  can  lay  more  than  a  thousand  eggs 
a  year.  Cultivate  toads. 

Angleworms  do  not  harm  plants.  Instead  they 
bring  good  soil  to  the  surface  and  mix  it  with  the 
other  soil.  They  draw  leaves,  grass,  etc.,  into 
their  holes  and  make  humus  and  when  they  die 
they  fertilize  the  soil  with  their  bodies.  Robins 
would  eat  more  fruit  than  they  do  now  if  they  had 
not  angleworms  to  feed  on. 

To  protect  tomato  plants  from  the  cutworm,  wrap 
pieces  of  paper  around  the  stem  of  the  plant 
for  about  two  inches  below  the  soil  and  a  slight 
distance  above.  Poisoned  bran  scattered  on  the 
ground  near  the  plants  will  kill  the  cutworms. 
Be  careful  not  to  get  it  on  the  leaves  of  the  plants. 

Birds  eat  many  of  the  harmful  insects. 

Insects  are  usually  most  prevalent  on  the  young 
twigs  of  plants  and  it  is  there  the  spraying  should 


Insects  and  Sprays  269 

be  most  carefully  done.     To  spray  half-heartedly 
will  do  no  good. 

In  spraying  flowering  trees  or  vegetables,  be  careful 
to  get  the  mixture  into  the  flower  clusters.  The 
spray  should  be  directed  from  every  angle. 

Jack  Frost  is  the  champion  pesteradicator. 

Fall  plowing  with  some  hens  following  the  plow 
is  a  good  way  to  get  rid  of  many  hibernating 
insects. 


SPRAYS  WHICH   EVERY   GARDENER    SHOULD   KNOW 
HOW  TO  MAKE 

Bordeaux  Mixture 

Dissolve  4  Ibs.  of  copper  sulphate  crystals  in  2 
gallons  of  hot  water,  using  a  wooden  container,  or 
dissolve  by  suspending  the  crystals  in  a  coarse  sack 
in  a  half -barrel  of  water. 

'  Slake  4  Ibs.  of  fresh  lime  in  a  wooden  tub  or  half- 
barrel,  adding  slowly  just  enough  water  to  insure 
thorough  slaking.  When  slaked,  enough  water 
may  be  added  to  make  the  mixture  of  the  consist- 
ency of  cream. 

When  cold,  strain  lime  mixture  through  a  wire 
strainer  into  the  barrel  and  add  enough  water  to 


270  Insects  and  Sprays 

make  25  gallons;  dilute  the  copper  solution  with 
enough  water  to  make  25  gallons  and  pour  it 
slowly  into  the  lime  mixture. 

Self -Boiled  Lime-Sulphur 

Place  8  Ibs.  of  fresh  stone  lime  in  a  barrel  and 
slake,  using  no  more  water  than  is  necessary.  As 
soon  as  the  heat  has  generated,  sift  in  8  Ibs.  of  sul- 
phur flour  and  stir  into  the  lime  solution  thoroughly 
gradually  adding  more  water  to  make  a  thick  paste. 
Heat  for  fifteen  minutes,  then  cool  by  adding  more 
water.  Strain  into  a  barrel  and  add  enough  water 
to^make  50  gallons  of  the  mixture. 

Potassium  Sulphide 

Dissolve  three  ounces  of  potassium  sulphide  in  10 
gallons  of  water. 

Corrosive  Sublimate 

Dissolve  2  oz.  of  corrosive  sublimate  in  15  gal- 
lons of  .water.  (Very  poisonous.) 

Formaldehyde  Solution 

For  spraying  potatoes,  I  Ib.  of  formaldehyde  to 
30  gallons  of  water. 


Insects  and  Sprays  271 

For  onion  smut,  I  Ib.  of  formaldehyde  to  16 
gallons  of  water. 

For  seed  bed,  i  Ib.  of  formaldehyde  to  I2>^ 
gallons  of  water. 

Paris  Green 

Slake  %  Ib.  of  quick  lime  in  enough  water  to 
answer  the  purpose;  mix  J^  Ib.  Paris  green  with  a 
little  water  until  it  is  of  a  creamy  consistency,  and 
add  to  the  limewater;  add  enough  water  to  make 
50  gallons. 

Ar senate  of  Lead  Paste 

Dissolve  3  Ibs.  of  arsenate  of  lead  paste  in  50 
gallons  of  water. 

Arsenate  of  Lead  Powder 

Mix  iX  Ibs.  of  arsenate  of  lead  powder  with 
enough  water  to  make  a  creamy  consistency  and 
add  enough  water  to  make  50  gallons. 

Hellebore 

Steep  2  oz.  of  hellebore  in  a  pint  of  water  and 
gradually  add  more  water  until  it  amounts  to  3 
gallons. 


272  Insects  and  Sprays 

Whale-oil  Soap 

Dissolve  2  Ibs.  of  potash  whale-oil  soap  in  a 
gallon  of  water  for  use  in  the  summer  months; 
for  winter  use  dissolve  I  Ib.  of  soap. 

Kerosene  Emulsion 

Dissolve  ]/2  Ib.  of  good  hard  soap  in  a  gallon  of 
hot  water.  Churn  this  until  it  becomes  thick, 
then  mix  with  2  gallons  of  kerosene. 

Bordeaux  Arsenate  of  Lead  Mixture 

Mix  3  Ibs.  of  lead  arsenate  powder  with  50 
gallons  of  Bordeaux  mixture. 


THE  COLOR  SCHEME 

THE  color  scheme  of  the  garden,  however  small 
it  may  be,  is  deserving  of  any  amount  of  considera- 
tion. The  difference  in  the  general  aspect  of  the 
garden  which  has  been  carefully  laid  out  in  color 
before  planting,  and  the  garden  planted  without 
regard  to  the  combination  of  colors  and  the  size  of 
the  plants  grouped  together,  is  quite  as  noticeable 
as  the  difference  in  exteriors  which  have  been  care- 
fully studied  and  those  which  have  been  carelessly 
put  together. 

A  little  judicious  selecting  of  plants  will  enable 
even  the  amateur  gardener  to  have  a  succession 
of  blossoms  throughout  the  seasons,  as  well  as 
a  splendid  showing  of  bright  colors  out-of-doors 
during  the  cold  months.  The  garden  color  scheme 
should  always  harmonize  with  the  exterior  of  the 
house.  The  beauty  of  an  old-fashioned,  colonial 
exterior  will  be  emphasized  by  a  planting  of  flowers 
which  grew  in  the  garden  a  hundred  years  ago,  and 
the  planting  for  a  house  built  on  Spanish  Mission 
lines  should  consist  largely  of  palms,  shrubbery, 
and  heavy  foliage  plants.  A  little  white  house 
with  green  shutters  has  its  dainty  effect  carried 
is  273 


274  The  Color  Scheme 

out  in  full  if  light-leaved  foliage  is  massed  around 
the  doorway  and  the  colors  most  prominent  are 
soft  pink,  white,  and  green,  or  blue,  pink,  white, 
and  green,  or  some  other  delicate  combination.  A 
large  house  with  a  dark,  heavy  exterior  needs 
gay,  bright,  even  giddy  colors  to  strike  a  balance 
and  create  a  cheerful  atmosphere.  A  house  gray 
in  color  makes  a  good  background  for  geraniums 
on  the  cerise  shade  growing  in  the  window  boxes, 
with  English  ivy  tendrils  hanging  gracefully  down, 
and  a  mixture  of  white,  delft  blue,  and  cerise 
somewhere  in  the  yard.  Unharmonious  colors 
should  not  be  grouped  together  in  the  garden  any 
more  than  they  should  be  combined  indoors  in 
wall  paper  and  draperies.  The  secret  of  a  beau- 
tiful garden  lies  just  as  much  in  the  grouping 
together  of  colors  as  in  the  care  given  the  plants. 
When  there  is  not  enough  space  to  separate  shades 
which  do  not  harmonize,  an  abundance  of  green 
planted  between  them  will  prevent  a  clash  of 
colors,  and  if  the  effect  of  the  general  landscape 
plan  will  not  be  marred,  the  foliage  plants  should 
be  tall  enough  to  entirely  shut  off  the  view  of  one 
color  when  looking  at  the  other. 

The  midsummer  color  scheme  is  easily  planned 
as  this  period  produces  a  wonderful  variety  of 
flowers  of  all  shades  and  sizes,  but  the  plan  for 


The  Color  Scheme  275 

spring  and  fall  is  more  difficult.  Fortunately  in 
the  spring  we  are  gratified  at  having  any  sort  of 
display  of  flowers  which  first  herald  the  approach 
of  warm  sunny  weather  after  the  bitter  cold  just 
experienced,  and  they  are  given  double  the  appre- 
ciation they  really  deserve,  or  that  would  be  given 
them  later  in  the  season,  and  thanks  to  the  various 
lilies,  i.  e.,  the  hyacinth,  narcissus,  daffodil,  crocus, 
lily-of-the-valley,  and  also  the  magnolia,  we  are 
not  without  plenty  of  variety  in  color,  though  the 
variety  in  species  of  plant  is  limited. 

The  fall  flowers  are  not  so  inspiring  but  we  have 
up  to  this  time  been  so  abundantly  supplied  with 
color  that  we  are  willing  to  accept  the  variety 
which  stays  with  us  until  cold  weather  has  shown 
its  intention  of  taking  up  its  abode  in  our  midst. 
The  fall  flowers  usually  are  pronounced  in  color, 
thus  does  Nature  provide  cheer  during  the  season 
when  the  leaves  begin  to  fall,  and  yet  it  is  not 
time  to  stay  indoors.  Cosmos,  salvia,  cannas, 
dahlias,  petunias,  marigolds,  nasturtiums,  zinnias, 
and  chrysanthemums  do  their  best  to  lend  cheer  to 
the  cold  chilly  atmosphere  of  autumn,  and  all  of 
these  plants  will  flourish  with  little  care,  though 
there  are  such  wonderful  opportunities  afforded  for 
developing  the  chrysanthemum  that  it  would  be 
a  great  pity  not  to  take  advantage  of  them. 


276  The  Color  Scheme 

Rhododendrons  have  heavy  leaves  and  when 
grouped  together  on  a  small  lot  they  make  an 
effective  screen,  but  they  should  have  some  relief 
near  in  the  form  of  lighter-leaved  foliage. 

In  planting  flowers  of  the  same  primal  colors  but 
of  different  shades,  it  is  well  to  keep  the  more  pro- 
nounced colors  away  from  the  daintier  hues.  For 
instance,  a  deep  red  near  a  delicate  pink  will  have 
the  effect  of  absolutely  killing  the  pink  and  making 
what  might,  under  more  favorable  surroundings, 
be  a  beautiful  blossom  appear  to  be  a  washed-out, 
sickly  looking  flower. 

The  colors  which  harmonize  in  clothing  may 
safely  be  combined  in  flowers,  for,  after  all,  color 
is  color  whether  it  be  indoors  or  out.  An  abund- 
ance of  white  is  always  desirable  as  it  not  only 
brings  out  colors  but  it  will  neutralize  even  very 
harsh  effects. 

In  roses,  perhaps  more  than  in  any  other  one 
flower,  we  have  a  wide  variety  of  shades  in  the 
different  colors  represented,  but  the  amateur  does 
not  usually  stop  to  consider  this  when  planning 
the  rose  garden.  He  feels  that  a  rose  is  a  rose  and 
that  roses  properly  belong  in  the  same  location 
whether  or  not  that  handsome,  rich  Jack  rose  is 
going  to  destroy  the  beauty  of  the  delicate  tea  or 
La  France.  A  rose  garden  is  something  to  be 


The  Color  Scheme  277 

desired  but  it  is  not  beautiful  when  en  masse 
unless  great  care  has  been  exercised  when  placing 
the  bushes.  The  size  of  the  bush,  too,  will  play 
its  part.  Pruning  roses  is  advised  but  if  all  bushes 
are  to  be  cut  to  one  or  two  stems  each  year  in  order 
to  produce  one  or  two  very  fine  buds  there  will  be 
a  lack  of  color  in  the  rose  garden,  and  the  fact  that 
one  or  two  fine  buds  will  soon  shatter  and  there  will 
be  no  chance  for  more  to  blossom  forth  should  be 
considered  when  pruning.  It  does  seem  a  pity  to 
sacrifice  so  much  of  flower  and  foliage  merely  to 
produce  one  or  two  unusually  fine  rose  buds.  In 
selecting  evergreens  there  may  be  procured  beauti- 
ful shades  of  grayish  blue  and  bluish  green  in  the 
spruce,  and  soft  yellows  and  greens  in  the  cedar 
and  arbor- vitas.  Barberry,  hawthorne,  buckthorn, 
and  holly  will  furnish  red  and  the  much-to-be- 
desired  andromeda  floribunda  with  its  cottony 
white  berries  is  beautiful  alike  for  the  garden  and 
for  cutting  to  mix  with  other  flowers  in  a  vase. 

For  the  window  boxes  there  should  be  vines  as 
well  as  plants  unless  the  plants  are  spreading  in 
habit.  The  English  ivy  is  always  satisfactory  here 
and  particularly  when  the  flowers  are  a  deep  shade, 
while  the  pretty  little  green  and  white  king  gera- 
nium is  lovely  when  planted  among  the  more  deli- 
cately shaded  flowers. 


278  The  Color  Scheme 

And  do  not  forget  that  the  color  of  the  paint 
used  on  garden  accessories  will  have  its  effect  on 
the  general  color  scheme.  The  color  of  pergolas, 
arches,  and  seats,  as  well  as  fences,  and  the  color 
in  paths  is  going  to  go  far  toward  making  or  mar- 
ring the  garden.  Painted  a  glaring  white  these 
objects  will  be  very  conspicuous,  and  they  were 
never  meant  to  be  conspicuous.  They  are  there 
for  a  practical  purpose  and  should  never  come  to 
the  fore.  A  bright  green  will  seldom  harmonize 
with  the  green  of  the  foliage,  but  a  soft  gray  green 
will  not  be  so  noticeable,  and  soft  shades  of  gray 
may  be  used  to  advantage. 

Garden  sticks  with  conspicuous  figures,  such  as 
birds  and  flowers  painted  in  gay  colors,  lend  color 
to  the  garden  and  perhaps  they  are  all  right  if  one 
can't  have  color  in  flowers.  A  garden,  however, 
is  meant  to  display  flowers  and  not  the  handiwork 
of  someone  who  can  carve  a  piece  of  wood  into  a 
fantastic  shape. 

The  shady  places  should  be  carefully  looked  after. 
It  is  not  difficult  to  get  plenty  of  color  for  these 
spots,  though,  as  a  rule,  they  are  treated  to  a  dull 
sombre  green.  The  shady  spots,  more  than  the 
sunshiny  locations,  require  color,  and  warm  colors 
will  lend  cheer  to  the  surroundings. 


MISCELLANEOUS  HINTS  ON  GARDENING 

An  outfit  for  the  gardener  should  include  the 
following  tools  if  he  would  do  good  work  without 
being  hampered: 

A  trowel.  A  thermometer. 

A  small  hand  hoe.  A  cut-steel  rake. 

A  thinning  or  weeding  hook.  A  measuring  pole. 

A  hand  weeder.  A  watering  can. 

A  garden  fork.  A  large  spoon. 

A  pair  of  pruning  shears.  A  bulb  syringe. 
A  house-plant  vaporizer  for  spraying  insects. 

A  French  watering  can  has  an  exceedingly  long 
spout  and  will  save  the  back  in  watering  small  plants. 
Nearly  all  seed  houses  carry  garden  tools. 

\ 

A  self -watering  window  box  will  prove  most  valu- 
able when  one  wishes  to  close  up  a  house  for  a  week  or 
two.  The  water  may  be  poured  into  the  bottom  of 
the  box  and  by  means  of  small  holes  it  will  be 
sucked  up  by  the  soil  as  the  plant  needs  it. 

Heavy  plants,  such  as  palms,  ferns,  etc.,  may  be 
placed  on  a  rolling  stand  and  moved  easily  anywhere 

279 


280  Miscellaneous  Hints  on  Gardening 

about  the  house.  Plants  which  should  be  occa- 
sionally transferred  to  the  sunlight,  but  which 
ordinarily  remain  in  a  room,  will  be  much  more 
likely  to  receive  the  necessary  attention  if 
one  of  those  stands  is  procured.  They  are  very 
inexpensive. 

Inexpensive  and  attractive  wire  plant  stands  are 
prettier  than  the  old-fashioned  wooden  ones,  and 
have  the  advantage  of  everlasting  wear  and  light- 
ness of  weight. 

There  are  now  manufactured  waterproof  fibre 
saucers  for  flower  pots  which  will  not  absorb  mois- 
ture and  cause  a  highly  polished  piece  of  furniture 
to  be  marred.  They  are  unbreakable,  hence  will 
last  a  lifetime,  and  are  very  attractive  in  appear- 
ance. They  come  in  various  sizes. 

A  self-watering  hanging  flower  pot  saves  the  floor 
from  drips  and  as  a  large  quantity  of  water  may  be 
applied  at  one  time,  the  plants  will  not  require 
such  careful  attention. 

A  wheel  hoe  will  be  a  most  convenient  implement 
in  cultivating  rows  of  large  tracts  for  the  garden. 
It  makes  cultivating  a  very  easy  task  and  there 
will  be  no  dreaded  backache  for  one  who  is  subject 
to  this  trouble. 


Miscellaneous  Hints  on  Gardening   281 

Hotbed  and  cold  frame  sash  can  be  purchased  at  a 
slight  cost  when  unglazed  glass  is  used,  and  unglazed 
is  quite  as  good  as  glazed  so  far  as  the  health  of 
the  plants  is  concerned. 

A  metal  rubbish  burner  in  which  may  be  collected 
leaves,  paper,  and  rubbish  will  save  making  an  un- 
sightly spot  on  the  lawn,  and  there  will  be  no  danger 
of  burned  particles  blowing  around  over  the 
garden. 

Horse-radish  roots  will  grow  tender  green  shoots 
when  placed  in  water.  The  long  pieces  of  the  roots 
should  be  split  lengthwise  and  placed  in  the  water 
with  the  cut  side  down,  or  little  knobs  may  be  cut 
which  will  branch  out  prettily  and  each  form  a 
separate  little  plant.  The  water  should  be  changed 
every  three  or  four  days.  This  will  make  a  most 
novel  and  attractive  table  decoration,  which  will 
prove  quite  a  surprise  to  those  who  do  not  know 
about  it. 

Attar  of  roses  is  made  from  the  petals  of  the 
damask  rose  and  other  roses  grown  in  Bulgaria, 
India,  Persia,  and  the  south  of  France.  Geranium 
oil  is  obtained  from  the  leaves  of  the  pelargonium, 
which  is  cultivated  in  Spain  and  Algeria.  Oranges, 
tuberoses,  jasmines,  and  violets  are  grown  in  Grasse, 


282   Miscellaneous  Hints  on  Gardening 

France,  for  the  purpose  of  making  perfume  bearing 
the  same  names.  Peppermint,  spearmint,  worm- 
wood, sassafras,  wintergreen,  birch,  spruce,  white 
cedar,  and  tansy  are  grown  in  the  United  States, 
principally  in  the  Eastern  States,  for  their  oils. 

The  goldenrod  is  commonly  known  as  the  national 
flower  of  the  United  States,  but  as  its  claim  lies 
chiefly  in  the  fact  that  it  is  found  in  profusion  in 
every  State  in  the  Union,  and  as  there  are  other 
flowers  having  the  same  claim,  there  seems  little 
reason  for  adopting  it  as  the  national  flower.  It  is 
not  very  pretty  nor  has  it  any  fragrance,  and  it 
bears  the  dreadful  stigma  of  causing  hay  fever. 
The  columbine  is  much  preferred  by  many,  and  has 
the  added  attraction,  aside  from  that  of  thriving 
in  all  parts  of  the  country,  of  producing  red,  white, 
and  blue  flowers,  which  lend  themselves  readily  for 
decoration  on  our  national  holiday. 

The  ribs  of  an  old  umbrella  will  make  a  scarcely 
visible  support  for  gladioli,  dahlias,  vines,  and  other 
flowers  requiring  bracing  or  place  to  climb  upon. 
An  old  umbrella  with  the  cloth  torn  off  will  be  a 
thing  of  beauty  when  covered  by  a  flowering  or 
pretty-leaved  vine. 

When  the  garden  tools  are  dull,  take  the  time  to 


Miscellaneous  Hints  on  Gardening   283 

have  them  sharpened.     Tools  used  season  after 
season  must  have  some  attention  paid  them. 

When  grafting  on  a  cold  day,  have  ready  a  liquid 
grafting  wax  to  apply  at  once.  This  work  had 
best  be  done  on  a  mild  day. 

Hardy  annuals  may  often  be  preserved  throughout 
the  winter  if  they  are  covered  with  a  mulch  of  straw 
and  manure.  They  should  have  coarse  and  loose 
covering,  permitting  some  air.  Leaves,  boards, 
and  boughs  of  cedar  and  pine  may  be  used.  It  is 
well  worth  while  protecting  many  hardy  annuals 
as  they  will  bloom  much  earlier  in  the  spring  of  the 
following  year  than  annuals  started  that  season. 

Do  not  hesitate  to  prune  the  flowers.  Rank  growth 
means  poor  flowers,  lacking  both  color  and  size. 
Nearly  all  perennials  and  some  annuals  are  bene- 
fited by  pruning. 

All  dead  flowers  should  be  taken  from  the  bush  in 
order  to  give  the  other  buds  a  chance  to  receive 
all  the  moisture  and  nourishment  supplied  by  the 
roots  and  stems.  Many  plants  will  cease  flowering 
when  dead  flowers  are  left  to  go  to  seed. 

If  your  neighbors  have  rabbits  or  chickens,  prepare 
for  them.  While  it  hardly  seems  fair  to  have  to 


284   Miscellaneous  Hints  on  Gardening 

feed  the  neighbors'  pets  and  poultry,  it  will  safe- 
guard your  own  flowers.  Plant  sunflowers  for  the 
chickens  and  a  few  heads  of  cabbage  for  the  rabbits 
and  they  will  not  molest  the  flowers.  The  safest 
protection  is  a  well-placed  wire  fence,  though  this 
may  not  be  desirable. 

Keep  pruning  instruments  sharp,  that  there  may 
be  no  rough  ragged  edge  on  the  plant  causing  a  wound. 
A  coating  of  paint  applied  to  the  cut  while  the 
wound  is  healing  will  keep  too  much  sap  from 
running  out,  tending  to  bleed  the  plant  to  death. 
In  many  ways  plants  are  to  be  treated  like  human 
beings. 

All  waste  foliage  after  pruning  should  be  burned 
and  thus  returned  to  the  earth  in  the  form  of  wood 
ashes,  helping  to  supply  plant  food. 

Stake  all  tall  growing  plants  that  are  likely  to 
become  bent  or  blown  down  by  the  first  strong 
wind.  Not  to  stake  them  until  they  are  already 
bent  or  blown  over  may  mean  hard  work  to 
straighten  them,  even  if  they  are  not  actually 
broken  in  half.  A  garden  with  a  profusion  of 
neglected  flowers  is  not  at  all  attractive. 

Do  not  cut  off  all  the  foliage  when  pruning  a  per- 
ennial. Enough  leaves  should  remain  to  furnish 


Miscellaneous  Hints  on  Gardening   285 

air  cells  for  the  rest  of  the  plant,  otherwise  it  will 
not  flourish. 

Keep  in  a  convenient  place  a  ball  of  twine  and  a 
pair  of  shears.  A  pair  of  old  leather  gloves  may 
well  keep  company  with  these  articles  for  work  in 
the  garden  will  soon  cause  the  hands  to  become 
roughened  and  red  if  not  protected. 

A  cutting  will  always  be  stronger  and  root  more 
easily  if  it  is  made  from  a  piece  of  the  main  stem 
from  which  a  shoot  has  branched.  This  cutting, 
in  the  form  of  the  letter  "T, "  should  be  inserted 
in  the  earth,  laying  the  main  stem  flat  down  and 
leaving  the  newer  shoot  sticking  up. 

Study  the  nooks  and  corners  of  your  garden,  the 
shady  places,  and  the  sunny  spots,  and  plant  in 
each  location  a  flower  suited  to  the  natural  con- 
ditions. This  is  the  only  way  to  get  really  suc- 
cessful growth  in  plants. 

Green  raffia,  which  is  very  inexpensive,  will  be 
excellent  for  use  in  tying  plants  to  a  stake.  It  is 
soft  and  will  not  cut  or  bruise  tender  stems,  and  it 
is  also  strong  and  inconspicuous. 

Many  plants  do  better  and  present  a  better  appear- 
ance if  instead  of  tying  to  a  stake  they  are  supported 


286    Miscellaneous  Hints  on  Gardening 

by  three  or  four  stakes  driven  into  the  ground 
around  them,  slanting  outward  from  the  base  and 
fastened  together  by  means  of  a  piece  of  raffia 
or  green  cord. 

Perennials  which  have  stood  in  the  same  spot 
for  several  years  will  be  benefited  by  having  their 
roots  divided.  The  old  roots  should  be  discarded 
and  the  young  ones  reset  in  soil  which  has  been 
freshly  fertilized  with  rich,  well-rotted  manure. 

It  is  best  always  in  growing  flowers  from  cut- 
tings to  procure  cuttings  from  different  plants,  as 
some  flowers  will  not  mature  under  self-pollina- 
tion, and  nearly  all  flowers  produce  a  finer  variety 
of  color,  and  are  also  larger,  when  cross-pollination 
has  taken  place. 

When  there  are  more  seedlings  than  desired, 
exchange  with  friends  for  some  flower  which  they 
have  and  you  have  not.  Usually  they  will  be  only 
too  glad  to  make  the  exchange.  To  arrange  with  a 
neighbor  beforehand  with  regard  to  what  plants 
each  one  is  to  start,  will  effect  economy  in  seed 
and  labor. 

//  there  must  be  a  fence  between  your  lawn  and 
your  neighbor's,  make  of  it  an  attractive  thing. 


Miscellaneous  Hints  on  Gardening  287 

Plant  a  hedge  alongside,  or  train  vines  over  it. 
By  arrangement  with  your  neighbor,  this  fence 
may  be  a  boon  to  one  or  both  of  you.  It  may  even 
prove  a  hedge  in  itself  and  give  protection  from 
strong  north  or  east  winds. 

Paint  trellises,  lattice-work,  etc.,  which  are  to  have 
perennial  vines  trained  over  them.  Painting  will 
keep  them  from  rotting  out  as  soon  as  they  other- 
wise might,  and  the  vines  will  not  be  disturbed 
for  a  much  longer  time  than  if  unpainted  supports 
are  used. 

When  the  kitchen  window  is  exposed  to  the  street 
and  the  gaze  of  passers-by,  set  a  trellis  a  few  feet 
away  and  train  vines  over  it.  The  honeysuckle 
and  hop  planted  together  will  provide  an  abund- 
ance of  foliage  and  delightful  fragrance. 

Where  there  is  a  cat,  there  should  always  be  a  pot 
of  catnip  growing  in  the  house  in  the  winter,  and  a 
bunch  of  it  out-of-doors  in  the  summer.  This 
shrub  is  not  only  a  pleasure  to  cats  but  is  also  very 
beneficial  to  them,  as  it  is  their  natural  spring 
tonic. 

In  setting  a  wooden  post,  dig  a  hole  and  nearly 
fill  it  with  concrete.  Place  the  post  in  this  and  pour 


288   Miscellaneous  Hints  on  Gardening 

in  more  concrete,  allowing  it  to  harden.  The  wood 
will  last  almost  indefinitely  instead  of  rotting  after 
a  few  seasons.  The  posts  of  summerhouses  should 
be  protected  in  this  way  for  summerhouses  are 
expensive  and  difficult  to  repost  safely  when  once 
the  legs  have  rotted. 

All  new  plants  should  be  labeled  by  writing  the 
name  in  indelible  ink  on  a  smoothly  whittled  piece 
of  wood  and  tying  it  to  the  plant  by  means  of  a 
very  fine  wire,  taking  care  not  to  twist  the  wire  on 
too  tightly  or  the  plant  may  receive  a  bruise.  It 
is  well  to  use  both  the  botanical  name  and  the 
common  name  in  order  to  become  really  familiar 
with  the  flower,  as  many  catalogues  refer  only  to 
the  botanical  name  in  listing  flowers. 

In  planting  flowers  among  the  vegetables,  the 
following  list  will  prove  a  satisfactory  combination. 
No  perennials  should  be  included  or  they  will  be  in 
the  way  when  preparing  for  planting  the  following 
spring: 

Asters  Gladiolus  Phlox 

Alyssum  Larkspur  Poppy 

Calendula  Mignonette  Four  o'clock 

Cornflowers  Nasturtiums  Portulaca 

Unless  seed  is  required,  cut  off  the  flowers  of  all 
perennials  as  soon  as  they  have  stopped  blooming. 
No  plant  can  flourish  and  give  the  best  result 


Miscellaneous  Hints  on  Gardening   289 

in  flowers  with  a  great  number  of  dead  or  dying 
blossoms  still  on  their  stems. 

A  flower  box  for  the  kitchen  window  or  back  porch 
will  be  likely  to  get  plenty  of  attention  from  the 
kitchen  worker.  It  is  so  easy  to  care  for  flowers 
when  fork  and  water  are  at  hand,  and  the  laborer 
in  the  kitchen  is  entitled  to  the  pleasure  to  be 
derived  from  cultivating  flowers. 

A  good  depth  for  an  indoor  window  box  is  twelve 
inches.  The  bottom  of  the  box  should  be  covered 
with  stones  and  broken  pottery  to  give  drainage 
and  this  should  be  covered  by  a  layer  of  moss  to 
prevent  the  soil  from  working  down  through  the 
stones.  The  drainage  and  moss  should  take  up 
about  three  inches  of  space.  The  greater  the  body 
of  soil  above  the  moss,  the  more  uniform  it  may  be 
kept  as  to  moisture.  The  soil  should  come  to 
within  half  an  inch  of  the  top  of  the  box. 

The  indoor  window  box  should  be  made  to  just 
Jit  the  window.  To  get  as  much  light  as  possible  it 
should  be  level  with  the  window  ledge.  There 
should  be  a  drip  pan  beneath  to  keep  the  water 
from  soiling  the  floor. 

A  permanent  method  of  tagging  flowers  with  their 
names  is  to  write  the  name  on  a  small  slip  of  paper, 
19 


290   Miscellaneous  Hints  on  Gardening 

place  inside  a  tiny  glass  bottle,  thin  enough  to 
read  through,  and  tie  the  bottle  on  the  bush,  open 
end  down.  There  will  be  no  danger  of  the  rain 
washing  the  name  off  nor  of  the  paper  becoming 
water  soaked.  Small  medicine  bottles  such  as 
contain  pills  may  be  utilized  for  the  purpose. 

A  rubbish  heap  is  always  useful  and  very  conven- 
ient if  not  abused.  All  old  plants,  vines,  and  refuse 
from  hedges  should  be  piled  on  this  heap  and  when 
well  decayed  will  make  valuable  mold  for  the  plants. 
The  pile  should  not  be  littered  with  old  boxes  or 
barrels  or  tinware. 

Save  all  old  boxes,  barrels,  and  odd  pieces  of 
wood  and  burn  to  ashes  for  the  flowers. 

To  one  who  works  in  a  garden,  a  kneeling  basket 
is  a  great  comfort.  An  old  piece  of  matting, 
doubled  and  stitched  together,  turning  up  the 
edges  on  three  sides,  will  answer  splendidly.  To 
bind  the  edges  with  a  piece  of  tape  and  make  a 
cushion  for  the  bottom,  will  insure  a  long  life  for 
the  basket  and  make  kneeling  easy  on  the  knees. 
The  protection  to  the  clothing  cannot  be  estimated. 

A  basket  and  a  pair  of  shears  should  always  be 
taken  along  when  going  into  the  garden.  There  is 
always  some  pruning  to  be  done  though  it  may 


Miscellaneous  Hints  on  Gardening   291 

be  only  to  take  off  dead  flowers,  and  cutting  with 
scissors  is  better  for  the  flowers  than  pinching  with 
the  fingers. 

A  long  pole  with  a  hook  on  the  end  makes  a  very 
convenient  device  on  which  to  hang  the  garden  basket. 
It  will  enable  one  to  have  the  basket  at  a  conven- 
ient height  instead  of  having  to  stoop  to  the  ground 
for  it  so  many  times  in  the  course  of  an  hour. 

When  choice  plants  must  be  brought  into  the 
room  where  there  is  a  great  deal  of  dust  and  where  gas 
is  burning,  a  glass  cover  placed  over  them  will  af- 
ford great  protection.  There  should  always  be  air 
spaces  in  or  around  the  cover  and  it  should  not 
remain  over  the  plants  permanently. 

Ashes  provide  potash  and  hence  are  valuable  for 
all  flowers  which  are  grown  for  their  odor,  as  potash 
is  a  perfume  producer. 

Keep  all  tools  well  edged.  Dull  tools  will  rebel 
and  will  not  do  quick  and  effective  work.  Have 
a  place  for  the  tools  and  garden  hose  and  keep  them 
there.  Have  system  in  the  flower  garden  as  well 
as  in  the  vegetable  garden  and  the  home. 

Cement  colored  with  red  ochre  for  making  a 
garden  walk  will  give  it  a  warm  and  genial  hue. 


292   Miscellaneous  Hints  on  Gardening 

In  making  a  gravel  path,  a  good  drainage  founda- 
tion can  be  made  by  placing  under  the  gravel  a 
layer  of  cinders  two  or  three  inches  deep. 

Stone  and  cement  walks  should  be  placed  a  little 
higher  than  the  surface  of  the  ground  in  order  that 
the  water  may  drain  off  as  fast  as  it  falls.  Walks 
laid  a  little  below  the  surface  are  more  attractive 
probably,  but  if  one  would  avoid  wet  feet  and  bad 
colds,  a  little  more  practicality  and  a  little  less 
artistic  sense  should  be  displayed. 

Asparagus  roots,  planted  for  the  growth  of  the 
tops,  will  yield  splendid  results  when  making  up  a 
bouquet  of  flowers  that  have  little  or  no  foliage. 

The  leaves  of  carrots  make  very  pretty  foliage 
when  mixed  with  flowers  which  have  no  foliage. 

The  leaves  of  beets  lend  a  touch  of  color  to  a  spot 
•which  is  in  need  of  it.  When  planted  among  the 
flowers  few  will  recognize  them  as  the  common 
vegetable  beet.  They  should  not  be  set  nearer 
than  four  inches  apart  and  should  be  well  fertilized 
that  they  may  grow  rich,  handsome  leaves. 

Water  cress  added  to  the  collection  in  the  tank  will 
not  be  thought  of  as  a  vegetable  and  it  well  repays  the 
gardener  for  his  trouble,  branching  out  prettily  as 
it  does. 


A  LIST  OF  THE  COMMON  AND  BOTANI- 
CAL NAMES  OF  THE  FLOWERS 
MENTIONED  HEREIN 

(In  cases  where  the  botanical  name  is  generally  used,  it  has  been 
given  in  the  list  as  the  common  name.) 


Abutilon 

Achillea 

Ageratum 

Alkanet 

Alyssum,  Sweet 

Anemone 

Arbor-vitae 

Arbutus 

Aster 

Azalea 

Baby's  Breath 

Bachelor's  Button 

Balloon  Flower 

Balsam 

Begonia 

Bellflower,  Japanese 

Blanket  Flower 

Blazing  Star 

Bluebell 

Bougainvillea 

Bridal  Wreath 

Butterfly  Flower 

California  Bluebell 

Calliopsis 

Campion 


Abutilon 

Achillea 

Ageratum 

Anchusa 

Alyssum  maritimum 

Anemone 

Thuya 

Arbutus 

Callistephus  hortensis 

Rhododendron  indicum 

Gypsophila 

Ranunculus 

Platycodon 

Impatiens  balsamina 

Begonia 

Platycodon 

Gaillardia 

Liatris  Scabiosa 

Mertensia 

Bougainvillea 

Francoa  ramosa 

Schizanthus 

Nemophila 

Coreopsis 

Silene 


293 


294      Common  and  Botanical  Names 


Candytuft 

Canna 

Canterbury  Bell 

Carnation 

Castor  Oil  Bean 

Catchfly 

Chrysanthemum 

Clarkia 

Cobaea  scandens 

Cockscomb 

Columbine 

Coneflower 

Cornflower 

Cosmos 

Crocus 

Cyclamen 

Dahlia 

Daisy 

Dianthus 

Dragon's  Head 

Dusty  Miller 

Edelweiss 

Elephant's  Ear 

Ferns 

Feverfew 

Floss  Flower 

Forget-me-not 

Forsythia 

Foxglove 

Freesia 

Fuchsia 

Gaillardia 

Gardenia   . 

Gentian 

Geranium 

Gladiolus 

Godetia 

Gold  Dust 

Golden  Bell 

Gourd 


Iberis 

Canna 

Campanula  medium 

Dianthus 

Ricinus 


Chrysanthemum 

Clarkia 

Cobaa  scandens 

Celosia 

Aquilegia 

Rudbeckia 

Centaurea 

Cosmos 

Tecophilcta 

Cyclamen 

Dahlia 

Bellis 

Dianthus 

Dracocephalum 

Agrostcmma 

Leontopodium 

Begonia  semperflorena 

Different  name  for  each  variety 

Parthenium 

Ageratum 

Myosotis  ^ 

Forsythia 

Digitalis 

Freesia 

Fuchsia 

Gaillardia 

Gardenia 

Gentiana 

Geranium 

Gladiolus 

Godetia 

Alyssum 

Forsythia 

Cucurbita 


Common  and  Botanical  Names      295 


Gypsophila 

Heliotrope 

Hibiscus 

Holly 

Hollyhock 

Honesty 

Honeysuckle 

Hop 

Horse  Chestnut 

Hyacinth 

Hyacinth,  Grape 

Hydrangea 

Indian  Nettle 

Indian  Shot 

Iris 

Jacob's  Ladder 

Jessamine  (or  Jasmine) 

Lantana 

Larkspur 

Lavender 

Lilac 

Lily 

Lily-of-the-Valley 

Lily,  Tiger 

Lily,  Water 

Lobelia 

Love-Lies-Bleeding 

Lily  Tree 

Lupin 

Madwort 

Magnolia 

Maltese  Cross 

Mallow 

Marguerite 
Marigold 
Marjoram 
May  Flower 
Michaelmas  Daisy 


Gypsophila 

Heliotropium 

Hibiscus 

Ilex 

Althcea  rosea 

Lunaria 

Lonicera 

Humulus 

Msculus 

Hyacinthus 

Muscari 

Hydrangea 

Lantana 

Canna 

Iris 

Cobaa  scandens 

Jasminum 

Lantana 

Delphinium 

Lavandula 

Syringa 

Lilium 

Convallaria 

Lilium  tigrinum 

Nymphaa 

Lobelia 

Amarantus 

Magnolia 

Lupinus 

Alyssum 

Magnolia 

Lychnis  Chalcedonica 
(  Hibiscus 
•<  Lavatera 
{  Malva 

Chrysanthemum  fretcscens 

Tagetes 

Origanum 

Epigaa  repens 

Aster 


296      Common  and  Botanical  Names 


Mignonette 

Milfoil 

Mint 

Mistflower 

Mistletoe 

Mock  Orange 

Monkshood 

Moonflower 

Narcissus 

Nasturtium 

Nemophila 

Oleander 

Palm 

Pansy 

Pearl 

Peony 

Periwinkle 

Petunia 

Phlox 

Pink 

Pomegranite 

Poppy 

Portulaca 

Pot  Marigold 

Primrose 

Prince's-Feather 

Rhododendron 

Rock  Cress 

Rose 

Rosemary 

Scabious 

Scarlet  Sage 

Smilax 

Snapdragon 

Sneezeweed 

Snowdrop 

Sowbread 

Spiraea 

Starwort 

Stocks 


Reseda 

Achillea 

Mentha 

Eupatorium 

Viscum 

Philadelphia 

Aconitum 

Ipomcea  bone-nox 

Narcissus 

Troptzolum 

Nemophila 

Oleander 

Palm 

Viola  tricolor 

Achillea 

Paony 

Vinca 

Petunia 

Phlox 

Dianthus 
'  Punica  granatum 

Papaver 

Purslane 
\  Calendula 

Primula 

Amarantus  hypochondriacus 

Rhododendron 

Arabis 

Rosa 

Rosemarinus  officinalis 

Scabiosa 

Salvia 

Smilax 

Antirrhinum 

Helenium 

Galanthus 

Cyclamen 

Spiraa 

Aster 

Matthiola 


Common  and  Botanical  Names      297 

Sunflower  Helianthus 

Sweet  Pea  Lathyrus 

Sweet  William  Dianthus  barbatus 

Thistle  Carduus 

Tickseed  Coreopsis 

Tobacco  Plant  Nicotiana 

Tulip  Tulipa 

Verbena  Abronia 

Verbena,  Lemon  Aloysia  citriodora 

Viburnum  Viburnum 

Violet  Viola 

Virginia  Creeper  Vitis 

Water  Lily  Nymphcea 

Windflower  Anemone 

Wistaria  Wistaria 

Yarrow  Achillea 

Zinnia  Zinnia 


A   LIST  OF   FLOWERS  ARRANGED   ACCORDING   TO 
THE  BLOSSOMING  PERIOD 


Spring 

Almond,  Flowering  Jonquil 

Anemone  Larkspur 

Azalea  Lilac 

Canterbury  Bell  Lily-of-the-Valley 

Clematis  Lonicera  Japonica 

Crocus  Magnolia 

Currant,  Flowering  Narcissus 

Daffodil  Pansy 

Forget-Me-Not  Pink 

Forsythia  Rhododendron 

Foxglove  Snowdrop 

Gypsophila  Tulip 

Honesty  Violet 

Hyacinth  Wistaria 
Iris 


298  Flowers  as  they  Blossom 

Midsummer 


Achillea 

Ageratum 

Agrostemma 

Alyssum 

Anemone 

Asters 

Balsam 

Black-Eyed  Susan 

Bridal  Wreath 

Calliopsis 

Candytuft 

Canna 

Canterbury  Bell 

Carnation 

Castor  Oil  Bean 

Chrysanthemum 

Clarkia 

Clematis 

Cobaea  scandens  (vine) 

Cockscomb 

Columbine 

Coneflower 

Coreopsis 

Cornflower 

Cosmos 

Cypress  Vine 

Daisy 

Dianthus 

Edelweiss 

Feverfew 

Forget-Me-Not 

Four  O'clock 

Foxglove 

Gaillardia 

Gardenia 

Gentian 

Geranium 


Hibiscus 
Hollyhock 
Honeysuckle 
Humulus 
Hydrangea 
Japonica 
Larkspur 
Lilies 
Lobelia 
Marigold 
May  Flower 
Mignonette 
Monkshood 
Moonflower 
Morning  Glory 
Nasturtium 
Nemophila 
Pansy 
Petunia 
Phlox 

Pinks,  Scotch 
Poppy 
Portulaca 
Pot  Marigold 
Primrose 
Roses 
Rosemary 
Salvia 
Scabiosa 
Snapdragon 
Spiraea 
Stocks 
Sunflower 
Sweet  Pea 
Sweet  William 
Verbena 
Zinnia 


Suitable  for  Winter  Potting  *.      299 

Fall 

Achillea  Marigold 

Alyssum,  Sweet  Monkshood 

Aster  Moonflower 

Carnation  Nasturtium 

Chrysanthemum  Pansy 

Cockscomb  Pepper  Plant 

Coreopsis  Petunia 

Cosmos  Phlox 

Dahlia  Poppy,  Oriental 

Gaillardia  Pot  Marigold 

Geranium  Prince's-Feather 

Gladiolus  Roses 

Golden  Glow  Salvia 

Golden  Rod  Scabiosa 

Hollyhock  Stocks 

Larkspur  Sweet  William 

Lily,  Tiger  Verbena 

Lobelia  Zinnia 

PLANTS  SUITABLE  FOR  WINTER  POTTING 

Abutilon  Fern 

Ageratum  Forget-Me-Not 

Azalea  Freesia 

Begonia  Gaillardia 

Bridal  Wreath  Geranium 

Butterfly  Flower  Hibiscus 

Calliopsis  Hyacinth 

Candytuft  Hydrangea 

Canterbury  Bell  Jonquil 

Carnation  Lantana 

Chrysanthemum  Lavender 

Clarkia  Lobelia 

Cobaea  scandens  Marguerite 

Coxcomb  Marigold 

Cyclamen  Mignonette 

Daffodil  Mint 

Daisy  Mock  Orange 


300      Perennials  According  to  Colors 

Narcissus  Rhododendron 

Nasturtium  'Rose  Geranium 

Nemophila  Rosemary 

Palm  Salpiglossis 

Pansy  Salvia 

Pepper  Plant  Smilax 

Petunia  Stocks 

Portulaca  Tulip 

Pot  Marigold  Verbena 

Primrose  Violet 

A  LIST  OP  PERENNIALS  ARRANGED  ACCORDING 
TO  COLORS 

(Bulbs  Included) 

Liberty  has  been  taken  with  this  list  inasmuch  as  some  flowers 
which  are  perennials  in  the  South  are  annuals  in  the  North. 

White 

Abutilon  Hyacinths 

Achillea  Hydrangea 

Alyssum  Iris 

Aster  Japonica 

Azalea  Lilacs 

Bridal  Wreath  Magnolia 

Campanula  Monkshood 

Carnation  Narcissus 

Chrysanthemum  Oleander 

Columbine  Peony 

Crocus  Phlox 

Daffodil  Poppy,  Oriental 

Dahlias  Primrose 

Daisies  Rhododendron 

Edelweiss  Roses 

Forget-me-not  Smilax 

Four  o'clock  Snapdragon 

Gardenia  Snowdrop 

Geranium  Spiraea 

Hibiscus  Tulips 

Hollyhock  Violets 


Perennials  According  to  Colors      301 


Red 


Agrostetnma 

Aster 

Azalea 

Carnation 

Chrysanthemum 

Cockscomb 

Columbine 

Crocus 

Cyclamen 

Dahlias 

Four  o'clock 

Freesias 

Fuchsias 

Gaillardia 

Geraniums 

Hibiscus 

Hollyhock 


Anchusa 

Anemone 

Asters 

Columbine 

Cornflower 

Forget-me-not 

Hyacinths 

Hydrangea 

Iris 


Alyssum 

Anemone 

Asters 

Calliopsis" 

Carnation 

Chrysanthemum 

Cockscomb 

Columbine 


Blue 


Honeysuckle,  French 

Hyacinths 

Japonica 

Lobelia 

Oleander 

Peony 

Phlox 

Polyanthus 

Poppy 

Primrose' 

Prince's  Feather 

Rhododendron 

Roses 

Snapdragon 

Sweet  William 

Tulips 


Larkspur] 

Lobelia 

Monkshood 

Pansy 

Primrose 

Scabiosa 

Sweet  William 

Violets 

Wistaria 


Yellow 


Crocus 

Daffodils 

Dahlias 

Forsythia 

Foxglove 

Geraniums 

Gladiolus 

Hollyhock 


3O2        Annuals  According  to  Colors 


Lilies 

Marigold 

Monkshood 

Pansy 

Phlox 


Bellis 

Carnation 

Chrysanthemum 

Columbine 

Coneflower 

Hibiscus 

Hollyhock 

Hyacinth 


Asters 

Chrysanthemums 

Dahlias 

Hollyhock 

Hydrangea 

Iris 


Pink 


Purple 


Prince's  Feather 

Roses 

Sunflowers 

Sweet  William 

Tulips 

Violets 


Hydrangea 

Pansies 

Peonies 

Phlox 

Rhododendron 

Roses 

Sweet  William 


Lobelia 

Monkshood 

Pansy 

Sweet  William 

Violets 

Wistaria 


A  LIST  OP  ANNUALS  ARRANGED  ACCORDING  TO 
COLORS 


White 


Alyssum,  Sweet 

Asters 

Candytuft 

Canna 

Carnations 

Chrysanthemum 

Cobsea  scandens 

Cosmos 

Crocus 

Dahlias 


Daisy 

Dianthus 

Four  o'clock 

Geraniums 

Gladiolus 

Gypsophila 

Hollyhock 

Hyacinths 

Lily,  Calla 

Lily,  Madonna 


Annuals  According  to  Colors        303 


Lily-of-the-Valley 

Mignonette 

Moonflower 

Narcissus 

Pansies 

Petunias 

Phlox 

Poppies 


Portulaca 
Snapdragon 
Stock 

Sweet  Peas 
Sweet  William 
Tulips 
Verbena 
Violets 


Red 


Asters 

Bellis 

Cannas 

Carnations 

Chrysanthemums 

Cosmos 

Crocus 

Cyclamen 

Cypress  vine 

Dahlias 

Four  o'clock 

Gaillardia 

Geraniums 

Gypsophila  Elegans 

Hollyhock 

Hyacinths 


Love-Lies-Bleeding^ 

Morning  Glory  (vine) 

Nasturtiums  (vine) 

Nasturtiums  (dwarf) 

Pansies 

Petunias 

Phlox 

Poppies 

Salvia 

Snapdragon 

Stock 

Sweet  Peas 

Sweet  William 

Tulips 

Verbena 

Zinnia 


Yellow 


Calendula 

Calliopsis 

Cosmos 

Crocus 

Daffodils 

Dahlias 

Hyacinths 

Lily,  Tiger 

Marigold 


Nasturtium  (vine) 

Nasturtium  (dwarf) 

Pansies 

Poppy 

Snapdragon 

Sunflower 

Tulips 

Verbena 

Zinnia 


304 


Flowers  for  Cutting 


Blue 


Ageratum 

Aster 

Cornflower 

Forget-me-not 

Hyacinths 

Larkspur 

Lobelia 


Asters 

Balsam 

Bellis 

Carnations 

Chrysanthemums 

Clarkia 


Aster 
Balsam 
Hyacinths 
Morning  Glory 
Pansies 


Pink 


Purple 


Monkshood 

Pansies 

Petunias 

Scabiosa 

Sweet  Peas 

Sweet  William 

Verbena 


Coneflower 

Hyacinth 

Periwinkle 

Phlox 

Sweet  Peas 

Verbenas 


Petunia 
Stock 

Sweet  Peas 
Sweet  William 
Verbena 


FLOWERS  FOR  CUTTING 


Achillea 

Ageratum 

Anchusa 

Anemone 

Aster 

Bachelor's  Button 

Bridal  Wreath 

Calendula 

Candytuft 

Carnation 

Chrysanthemum 

Clarkia 

Columbine 

Coreopsis 


Cornflower 

Cosmos 

Daffodil 

Dahlia 

Daisy 

Dragon's  Head 

Forsythia 

Foxglove 

Gaillardia 

Gardenia 

Gentian 

Geranium 

Gladiolus 

Golden  Glow 


Flowers  Requiring  Little  Sunlight    305 

Gypsophila  Phlox 

Heliotrope  Pinks 

Hydrangea  Poppy,  Shirley, 

Japonica  Pot  Marigold 

Jonquil  Primrose 

Larkspur  Roses 

Lilacs  Salvia 

Lilies  Scabiosa 

Lobelia  Scotch  Pink 

Magnolia  Snapdragon 

Marigold  Spiraea 

Mignonette  Stocks 

Monkshood  Sweet  Peas 

Narcissus  Sweet  William 

Nasturtium  Tulips 

Nemophila  Verbena 

Pansies  Violets 

Peonies  Zinnia 
Petunia 

FLOWERS  REQUIRING  LITTLE  SUNLIGHT 

Anemone  Monkshood 

Box  Hedge  Moonflower 

Canterbury  Bell  Mountain  Laurel 

Clematis  Nasturtium 

Ferns  Palms 

Forget-me-not  Peony 

Foxglove  Petunia 

Gentian  Portulaca 

Honeysuckle  Primrose 

Iris  Privet 

Ivy,  English  Rhododendron 

Jack-in-the-Pulpit  Rose,  Ayrshire 

Lilac  Rose,  Pink  China 

Lilies  (various  kinds)  Salvia 

Lily-of-the- Valley  Shooting  Star 

Lobelia  Silene 

Lupin  Sweet  Peas 

Marguerite  Violets 

Mint  Wistaria 


306  Flowers  Grown  for  Various  Reasons 

FLOWERS  THAT  THRIVE  IN  DAMP  PLACES 

Achillea  Lilies  (various  kinds) 

Crocuses  Lily-of-the-Valley 

Dahlias  Magnolia 

Elephant's  Ear  Marsh  Pea 

Ferns  (various  kinds)  Rhododendron 

Gentian  Saxifrage 

Giant  Reed  Sweet  Flag 

Jack-in-the-Pulpit  Violets 
Japonica 

FLOWERS  FOR  THE  ROCK  GARDEN 

Alyssum,  Sweet  May  Flower 

Campanula  Phlox 

Candytuft  Pinks,  Alpine 

Cyclamen,  hardy  Poppy,  Alpine 

Dianthus  Portulaca 

Edelweiss  Primrose 

Geraniums  Rock  Cress 

Gypsophila,'  Creeping  Saxifrage 

Jessamine  Snapdragon 

VEGETATION  GROWN  FOR  FOLIAGE 

Azalea,  Evergreen  Lavender 

Barberry  Love-Lies-Bleeding 

Beets,  Garden  Marjoram 

Begonias  Mint 

Box  Hedge  Moonflower 

Cannas  Myrtle 

Castor  Oil  Bean  Palms 

Elephant's  Ear  Privet 

Ferns  Rosemary 

Holly  Smilax 

Humulus  Virginia  Creeper 
Ivy,  English 

FLOWERS  FOR  THE  OLD-FASHIONED  GARDEN 

Ageratum  Bachelor's  Button 

Alyssum,  Sweet  Balsam 

Aster  Begonia 


Evergreen  Shrubs  and  Trees        307 


Calliopsis   } 

Candytuft 

Cannas 

Castor  Oil  Bean 

Chrysanthemum 

Cornflower 

Cosmos 

Cockscomb 

Cypress  Vine 

Daffodils 

Daisies 

Feverfew 

Forget-me-not 

Four  o'clock 

Geraniums 

Heliotrope 

Hollyhock 

Honeysuckle 

Humulus 

iris  : 

Jonquils 

Larkspur 

Lavender 

Lilacs 

Lily-of-the-VaUey 

Marigold 


Mignonette 

Mint 

Morning  Glory 

Nasturtiums 

"Old  Man" 

Pansies 

Peony 

Petunia 

Phlox 

Pinks,  Scotch 

Portulaca 

Primrose 

Prince's  Feather 

Roses  (monthly) 

Rose  Geranium 

Rosemary 

Salvia 

Stocks 

Sunflower 

Sweet  Peas 

Sweet  William 

Verbena 

Violets 

Virginia  Creeper 

Zinnia 


A  LIST  OF  EVERGREEN  SHRUBS  AND  TREES 


Shrubs 

Arbor-vitae 

Berberis 

Box      ,< 

Holly 

Ilex 

Ivy,  English  (vine) 

Laurel 

Myrtle 

Privet 

Rhododendron 


Trees 

Arbor-vitae 

Cedar 

Hemlock 

Holly 

Juniper 

Pine,  Austrian 

Spruce 

Spruce,  Oriental 

Yew 


A  PLEA  FOR  THE  BIRDS 

ONE  object  of  a  garden  should  be  to  provide  a 
home  for  the  birds;  a  home  where  they  can  be 
protected  and  cared  for,  and  where  they  will  come 
to  delight  the  family  and  the  neighbors.  The 
sight  of  a  bird  or  the  notes  of  its  song  is  always  a 
source  of  pleasure.  No  one  with  even  the  slight- 
est degree  of  responsiveness  in  his  nature  can  help 
being  benefited  by  close  contact  with  these  little 
friends  of  mankind.  There  are  some  thirteen 
thousand  different  species  of  birds  known  to 
science,  but  not  with  all  of  these  are  the  ornitholo- 
gist generally  familiar,  hence  bird  life  is  ever  an 
exhaustive  study.  Every  season  of  the  year  finds 
some  birds  in  every  section  of  the  country,  though 
the  great  majority  journey  to  southern  climes  with 
the  coming  of  the  winter  months. 

Some  seventy-five  years  ago  John  James  Audu- 
bon  worked  practically  alone  and  single-handed  in 
this  country  to  protect  the  birds.  He  was  ridi- 
culed of  course,  as  all  organizers  of  new  movements 
are,  but  so  great  was  his  love  for  the  birds  that  he 

308 


A  Plea  for  the  Birds  309 

did  not  heed  the  ridicule.  To-day  there  are  any 
number  of  societies  in  the  United  States  formed  for 
the  purpose  of  protecting  the  birds  and  propagat- 
ing bird  life.  Men  of  intellect  are  making  it  a 
life  study,  cities  and  towns  have  passed  a  law 
making  it  a  crime  to  kill  certain  birds  except  dur- 
ing a  few  weeks  each  year,  and  boys  abounding  in 
superfluous  energy  are  working  off  that  energy 
by  making  bird  houses  instead  of  scouring  the 
country  with  the  intent  to  rob  birds'  nests.  If 
John  James  Audubon  were  living  to-day  he  would 
certainly  feel  much  gratified  over  the  fruits  of  his 
labors. 

Birds  in  the  garden  are  profitable,  notwith- 
standing the  claim  that  they  eat  the  garden  seed. 
They  may  eat  a  few  flower  seed  but  they  also  eat 
seeds  of  weeds,  though  they  will  not  eat  very  many 
of  either  for  the  reason  that  they  will  be  spending 
their  time  in  search  of  bugs  and  worms  which 
would  otherwise  do  great  injury  to  the  plants. 
The  following  quotation  is  an  extract  from  a  re- 
port on  the  destroying  power  of  birds  over  insects : 

"A  quail  taken  in  a  cotton  field  in  Texas  had 
the  remains  of  127  cotton  boll- weevils  in  its 
craw.  Another,  taken  in  Pennsylvania,  had 
101  potato-bugs. 

"A   tree- swallow's    stomach   was   found    to 


3io  A  Plea  for  the  Birds 

contain  40  entire  chinch  bugs.  Two  stomachs 
of  pine  siskins  contained  1900  block  olive  scales 
and  300  plant-lice.  A  killdee's  stomach  con- 
tained 300  mosquito  larva?;  and  a  flicker's, 
28  white-grubs.  A  night-hawk  had  eaten  340 
grasshoppers,  52  bugs,  3  beetles,  and  2  wasps. 

"Fifty-one  species  of  birds  eat  hairy  cater- 
pillars, and  38  species  feed  on  plant-lice." 

Think  what  it  would  mean  to  plant  life  if  the 
percentage  of  insectivorous  birds  was  doubled  or 
trebled,  and  think  how  much  the  labors  of  the 
gardener  would  be  reduced.  And  birds  will  in- 
crease in  numbers  if  proper  homes  are  provided  for 
them.  Not  the  same  style  of  home  will  do  for  all 
birds.  Martins  want  roomy  houses,  robins  want 
open  houses,  wrens  require  houses  with  entrance 
holes  so  small  that  larger  birds  cannot  enter  and 
drive  them  away.  And  the  home  must  always 
be  adapted  to  the  needs  of  the  particular  kind  of 
bird  which  is  expected  to  occupy  it  or  it  will  not 
be  likely  to  attract  them. 

And  birds  are  somewhat  exacting  about  the 
location  of  their  homes.  All  mankind  is  not  yet 
friendly  to  the  birds  and  they  are  suspicious  of 
human  beings  in  general.  They  prefer  a  home 
hidden  among  the  limbs  of  trees  or  secluded  among 
bushes  or  vines.  A  bird  will  have  to  be  pretty 


A  Plea  for  the  Birds  311 

hard  up  for  a  home  before  he  will  move  into  a  house 
that  is  subject  to  the  gaze  of  every  passer-by. 
Fancy  birdhouses  are  unnecessary.  A  house 
simple  in  line  and  weatherproof  in  construction 
will  be  all  that  is  necessary  in  considering  the 
requirements.  A  house  with  cracks  through  which 
the  cold  wind  and  rain  can  seep  will  be  likely  to 
cause  the  death  of  a  bird  while  he  would  not  suffer 
from  exposure  in  the  open  air.  The  reason  is  that 
cracks  create  drafts  and  a  draft  will  chill  a 
bird,  giving  him  a  cold  and  probably  resulting  in 
pneumonia. 

A  pool  of  water  is  one  of  the  surest  ways  of 
attracting  birds  to  a  garden.  They  often  fly 
many  miles  before  they  come  to  a  pool,  a  brook, 
or  a  river,  and  if  a  bath  is  discovered  on  the  way, 
they  will  probably  stop  and  take  up  their  abode 
somewhere  in  the  neighborhood.  A  bird  bath 
may  be  as  fancy  or  as  plain  as  one's  taste  may  dic- 
tate, but  it  should  always  be  placed  in  a  spot 
where  the  birds  will  feel  that  they  are  out  of  range 
of  curious,  prying  eyes.  During  the  summer  the 
birds  can  take  care  of  themselves  with  regard  to 
food  but  during  the  winter  months  it  will  be  neces- 
sary in  certain  sections  of  the  country  where  snow 
covers  the  ground  to  provide  food  for  them.  A 
feeding  house  consisting  only  of  a  box  nailed  to  a 


312  A  Plea  for  the  Birds 

pole,  with  three  sides  closed  up  as  a  protection 
against  the  prevailing  winds,  will  serve  well.  If 
the  sides  can  be  of  glass,  thus  insuring  a  passing 
bird  a  glimpse  of  the  food  within,  so  much  the 
better.  These  feeding  houses,  too,  should  be 
situated  not  too  near  a  dwelling  house. 

It  may  seem  cruel  to  keep  birds  caged  but  some 
species  will  have  no  objection  to  caging  if  they  are 
well  treated.  They  should  be  fed  and  watered 
regularly  and  many  of  them  can  be  trained  to  fly 
out  for  awhile  and  later  return  to  their  homes  by 
such  a  simple  method  as  tying  a  string  to  the  leg 
with  the  opposite  end  of  it  fastened  to  the  cage. 
If  this  is  done  a  few  times,  gradually  lengthening 
the  string,  |  and  the  bird  returns  happily  to  the 
cage,  by  and  by  he  may  be  permitted  to  go  free, 
with  the  door  left  open  for  his  return.  The  prac- 
tice of  using  the  string  should  be  continued  until 
the  bird  has  many  times  returned  willingly  to  the 
cage.  Of  course,  a  bird  sometimes  may  become 
lost  to  his  owner  but  surely  if  a  bird  after  kind 
treatment  and  freedom  prefers  the  open,  he  should 
have  it.  His  home  should  not  be  his  prison. 
They  were  originally  intended  for  greater  latitude 
than  humans  and  none  of  us  would  desire  prison- 
life  however  kindly  the  treatment. 

There  is  such  a  wonderful  variety  of  birds  and  we 


A  Plea  for  the  Birds  313 

are  fortunate  enough  to  have  some  kinds  frequent 
every  section  of  the  land.  There  are  song  birds 
and  birds  for  the  purpose  of  ridding  the  gardens  of 
pests,  and  birds  which  apparently  have  no  other 
value  than  that  of  displaying  gorgeous  plumage, — 
a  value  which  has  proven  to  be  deadly  to  them  in 
many  instances, — and  birds  which  have  all  three 
of  these  qualifications.  The  robin,  for  instance, 
is  a  beautiful  bird,  and  he  is  also  a  song  bird  and 
an  insect  eater,  and,  unfortunately,  in  some  parts 
of  the  country,  he  is  used  as  food  for  human  beings. 
Then  there  is  the  beautiful  scarlet  tanager,  whose 
music  attracts  toward  him  an  enemy  after  his 
wonderful  feathers.  The  martin  is,  perhaps,  the 
most  useful  bird,  for  it  is  claimed  by  men  who  are 
in  a  position  to  know  that  if  our  fields  abounded  in 
purple  martins  we  would  not  be  troubled  with 
mosquitoes,  and  the  curculio,  which  destroys  so 
many  fruit  trees,  is  noticeably  absent  from  the 
orchard  which  is  frequented  by  martins.  Then 
there  is  the  mocking  bird,  and  who  in  the  South 
does  not  know  this  wonderful  little  bird,  that  imi- 
tates with  such  ease  the  songs  of  the  other  birds 
around  him?  It  is  claimed  by  the  mocking  bird 
lovers  that  one  mocking  bird  furnishes  as  much 
pleasure  as  any  six  other  birds.  They  will  nest 
not  far  from  human  habitation  and  their  young 


314  A  Plea  for  the  Birds 

are  wonderfully  fascinating.  Often  they  fall  from 
the  nest  to  the  ground  when  they  are  first  finding 
their  wings,  and  if  picked  up  and  caged,  the  mother 
bird  will  feed  them  food  which  is  supposed  to  be 
poisoned,  inasmuch  as  they  seldom  thrive  when 
fed  by  the  mother  bird,  and  nearly  always  die. 
Hence  they  are  very  difficult  for  human  beings  to 
raise. 

It  is  a  hopeless  task  to  attempt  to  enumerate 
herein  even  a  small  percentage  of  interesting  birds. 
Various  reliable  books  have  been  written  on  the 
subject  of  birds  and  among  the  number  that  are 
highly  recommended  are  the  following: 

Handbook  of  Birds  of  N.  E.  America  by  Frank  M.  Chapin 

Bird  Life 

Our  Common  Birds  "  Grant 

Bird  Homes  "  Dugmore 

Birds  that  Every  Child  Should  Know  "  N.  Blanchan 

Bird  Neighbors  "   "    .    " 


Bird  Houses 

During  the  fall  months  is  an  excellent  period 
for  putting  up  bird  houses.  The  birds  remaining 
north  will  be  more  than  likely  to  seek  them  out  and 
occupy  them,  and  those  which  go  south  will  find 
their  weather-worn  appearance  attractive  in  the 
springtime.  This  is  the  season  to  catch  the  war- 


A  Plea  for  the  Birds  315 

biers  in  the  South  and  induce  them  to  remain  until 
late  in  the  spring. 

A  bird  house  in  a  bald,  glaring  location  will  not 
prove  attractive  to  many  varieties  of  birds.  They 
much  prefer  dense  shrubbery,  or  at  least  vines  and 
branches.  Suit  the  bird  house  to  the  bird.  A 
wren  requires  a  very  tiny  entrance  and  a  house  built 
for  a  wren  should  not  have  a  doorway  that  will 
permit  larger  birds  to  enter,  or  the  wren  may  be 
driven  from  her  home. 

A  unique  bird  house  may  be  constructed  out  of  a 
number  of  cigar  boxes.  The  strips  taken  from  the 
boxes  should  be  nicked  and  the  other  pieces  slid 
into  them,  and  few  tacks  will  be  necessary. 

All  bird  houses  should  be  so  constructed  that  the 
interior  may  be  examined  and  cleaned.  This  is 
important  in  order  that  the  rubbish  of  the  previous 
year  may  be  cleaned  out,  but  in  some  sections  of 
the  country  it  will  be  found  necessary  to  disinfect 
to  get  rid  of  the  gypsy-moth  eggs  and  cocoons. 

The  martin  is  the  only  bird  which  prefers  a  house 
standing  out  in  the  open,  away  from  trees.  The 
entrance  should  be  in  the  opposite  direction  of  the 
prevailing  wind  and  should  be  sheltered  by  an 
overhanging  roof  or  hood  over  it. 


3i6  A  Plea  for  the  Birds 

Rustic  houses  are  the  prettiest,  and  a  perch  should 
be  included  in  every  house  even  if  the  bird  does  not 
use  it  for  long  at  a  time.  On  rainy  days  many 
birds  will  not  venture  out  at  all 

Houses  for  bluebirds  should  have  a  floor  space 
of  at  least  twenty-five  square  inches,  and  should  be 
eight  to  ten  inches  in  height.  The  entrance  need 
not  be  larger  than  an  inch  and  a  half  in  diameter, 
and  the  house  should  be  placed  eight  or  ten  feet 
above  the  ground. 

A  clothes  post  makes  a  good  place  to  fasten  a  bird- 
house,  but  it  should  first  have  been  covered  with  a 
vine  to  lure  the  bird  to  a  more  natural  setting. 
Honeysuckle  will  prove  most  satisfactory,  or  a 
wistaria  vine,  or  climbing  rose.  This  adornment 
will  make  of  the  homely  clothes  post  a  pleasing 
ornament,  and  the  birds  will  appreciate  the  foliage. 

Bird  houses  painted  white  are  attractive  to  hu- 
mans but  the  birds  would  much  prefer  green,  or 
natural  wood. 

Many  birds  which  migrate  to  the  South  in  the 
winter  can  be  persuaded  to  stay  in  the  North  if 
suitable  homes  are  provided.  Artificial  feeding 
can  easily  be  served. 


A  Plea  for  the  Birds  317 

The  hollow  limbs  of  old  trees  make  suitable  bird 
houses  and  a  vine  planted  to  climb  up  around  a 
tree  containing  a  hollow  limb  will  serve  as  an  at- 
traction to  the  birds  when  the  tree  stands  near  the 
house  or  in  a  location  human  beings  frequent. 

Martins  are  very  luxurious  little  birds  and  like  a 
home  with  many  rooms.  The  rooms  should  be  six 
inches  square  in  all  three  dimensions  and  the  en- 
trance holes  should  be  about  an  inch  and  a  half 
above  the  floor  level. 

The  proper  size  of  entrance  holes  for  different  birds 
is  as  follows : 

Inches  in  Diameter. 

Flickers  2^ 

Carolina  Wrens  itf 

Chickadees  llA 

Bluebirds  i^ 

Tree  Swallows  i# 

Woodpeckers  2# 

Wrens  I 

Robins,  catbirds,  and  kingbirds  build  houses  in  the 
open  and  only  wide-open  houses  should  be  pro- 
vided as  they  will  not  frequent  houses  which  they 
have  to  enter  by  means  of  a  small  hole. 

The  large  variety  of  gourds  make  excellent  bird 
houses  for  the  small  birds.  Any  seedsman  will 
recommend  the  varieties  best  suited  for  this 
purpose. 


3i8  A  Plea  for  the  Birds' 

Food  and  Water 

Among  the  foods  that  will  attract  the  winter  birds 
are  the  following: 

Salt  Suet 

Chaff  Pork 

Oats  Corn 

Nut  meats  Wheat 

Celery  tops  Millet 

Doughnuts  Raw  beef 

Canary  seed  Hemp  seed 

Sunflower  seed  Bread  crumbs 

Speckled  apples  Cracker  crumbs 

Blemished  oranges  Crumbs  of  dog  biscuit 

Mortar  and  fine  grit  Fat  meats  of  various  kinds 

A  suet  basket  constructed  of  metal  and  wires  can 
be  purchased  for  about  half  a  dollar,  or  one  can 
be  made  by  using  the  metal  as  a  background  and 
fastening  wires,  or  very  coarse  wire  mesh  around  it. 
At  least  half-inch  openings  should  be  provided 
between  the  wires.  This  should  be  kept  con- 
stantly filled  with  suet  and  placed  in  an  accessible 
place  for  the  birds. 

Young  house  birds  may  be  fed  with  mashed  pota- 
toes mixed  with  the  yolk  of  a  hard-boiled  egg.  The 
potato  should  be  thoroughly  mashed  and  in  warm 
weather  the  food  should  be  given  to  the  birds  as 
soon  as  made  to  avoid  feeding  them  food  which 
is  in  any  way  sour. 


A  Plea  for  the  Birds  319 

After  every  feeding  a  young  bird  should  be  given 
a  drink  of  water.  They  shpuld  be  induced  to 
swallow  it  and  if  it  is  put  into  their  mouths  with  a 
teaspoon  it  will  be  very  likely  to  go  down.  After 
the  first  ten  days  a  little  ants'  eggs  may  be  mixed 
with  the  potato  and  egg. 

Evergreens  especially  valuable  to  bird  life  are  the 
arbor-vitae,  white  spruce,  balsam  fir,  hemlock, 
Colorado  blue  spruce,  Scotch  and  white  pine,  and 
Norway  spruce.  A  branch  of  one  of  these  put 
into  the  bird  cage  will  give  a  great  deal  of  pleasure. 

Red  elderberries  will  prove  a  great  blessing  to  wild 
birds.  They  will  not  eat  fruits  as  long  as  the  elder- 
berries last.  Do  not  make  the  mistake  of  plant- 
ing purple  elderberries,  such  as  are  sometimes  used 
for  making  wine. 

Sunflowers  planted  late  will  not  scatter  so  badly 
as  those  planted  earlier  in  the  season  and  they  can 
be  relied  upon  as  excellent  food  for  the  birds. 

In  feeding  hemp  seed  to  young  birdst  crack  it 
before  putting  it  into  their  cages  or  it  may  be  too 
much  for  them  to  digest. 

A  caged  bird  should  have  a  piece  of  fishbone  on 
which  to  whet  his  beak.  He  will  love  this  and 


32O  A  Plea  for  the  Birds 

will  show  his  appreciation  by  the  frequent  use 
which  he  makes  of  it. 

A  good  way  to  jeed  the  snowbirds  is  to  sprinkle 
warm  ashes  on  a  clean,  clear  space,  and  scatter 
cornmeal  or  seed  on  the  warm  ashes. 

Among  the  vegetation  furnishing  foods  which  are 
desirable  to  a  large  variety  of  birds  are  the  currant, 
maple,  walnut,  chestnut,  peach,  lilac,  dogwood, 
huckbush,  oak,  wild  rose,  red  haw,  lilac,  grapes, 
spiraea,  and  sweet-brier.  A  collection  of  these 
plants  will  both  furnish  seed  and  attract  insects. 

Flowers  that  will  furnish  seed  for  the  birds  should 
be  planted  in  the  garden  to  keep  the  birds  from 
eating  the  flowers  one  wishes  for  one's  self.  Some 
of  those  which  produce  a  good  crop  of  seed  are 
prince's-feather,  love-lies-bleeding,  asters,  calan- 
drinias,  California  poppies,  thistles,  forget-me-nots, 
sunflowers,  and  tarweed. 

A  cocoanut  shell  furnishes  an  excellent  pantry  for 
the  birds,  and  it  is  one  which  will  not  be  affected 
by  the  weather.  Bore  a  hole  in  one  end  and  fill 
the  shell  with  chopped  suet,  nuts,  or  other  food 
mixtures. 


A  Plea  for  the  Birds  321 

A  cocoanut  shell  with  one  third  cut  away,  the 
remaining  two  thirds  hung  suspended  by  wires, 
will  furnish  a  splendid  little  bird  rest  at  feeding 
time.  A  bird  will  nest  in  it  with  comfort  being 
protected  from  strong  winds  while  eating  the  food 
placed  therein. 

A  food  tray  protected  on  its  northern  and  eastern 
sides,  and  preferably  on  the  western  also,  should 
be  provided  in  every  garden  for  birds.  If  it  is  placed 
near  shrubbery  it  will  be  more  likely  to  attract 
the  shy  warblers. 

A  small  piece  of  salt  pork  covered  with  cayenne 
pepper  and  hung  in  the  bird  cage  will  not  only  cure 
him  of  ailments  but  will  be  a  treat  to  him  as  well. 

Hard-billed  birds  which  eat  seed  are  more  easily 
reared  than  the  soft-billed  birds  which  depend  for  a 
living  on  insects  and  fruit. 

Birds  should  be  fed  with  exacting  regularity  and 
there  should  be  at  all  times  a  cup  of  water  in  the  cage 
that  they  may  drink  when  they  please.  Young 
birds,  fledglings  in  particular,  require  a  great  deal 
of  water. 

Birds  should  be  given  some  green  food  every  day 
and  plenty  of  ripe  fruit.  Young  leaves  from  beets, 


322  A  Plea  for  the  Birds 

lettuce,  radishes,  and  water  cress  are  particularly 
tasteful  to  them.  Also  young  and  tender  grass 
shoots. 

//  shrubs  and  vines  are  planted  to  feed  the  birds, 
they  will  not  eat  so  much  cultivated  fruit.  They 
must  eat  to  live  just  the  same  as  human  beings. 

A  bluebird  desires  for  his  food  seventy-six  per 
cent,  of  insects  and  twenty-four  per  cent,  of  wild 
fruit.  Insects  include  grasshoppers,  beetles,  cater- 
pillars,  and  spiders. 

A  sandy  soil  does  not  produce  a  great  variety  of 
food  for  the  birds.  For  seed  eaters,  beach  grass 
should  be  sown,  and  plenty  of  sunflowers.  For 
fruit  eaters,  the  bayberry,  sea  buckthorn,  sand, 
cherry,  beach  plum,  and  cranberries. 

Near  the  coast,  trees  that  will  withstand  the  wind 
should  be  planted  for  the  birds.  Among  them  are : 
Juniper,  barberry,  English  thorn,  red-berried 
elder,  Staghorn  and  smooth  sumac,  privets  and 
mountain  ash. 

Plant  wild-cherry  trees  for  the  birds.  There  is 
nothing  they  love  more  than  cherries.  Allow  the 
fruit  to  dry  on  the  tree  and  fall  to  the  ground  when 
the  leaves  drop. 


A  Plea  for  the  Birds  323 

A  cupful  of  cornmeal  mixed  with  a  cupful  of 
German  moss  meal  and  a  cupful  of  mealmade  from 
dried  peas,  and  a  little  molasses  added,  should  be 
fried  for  twenty  or  thirty  minutes,  and  a  much 
appreciated  dish  will  be  ready  for  the  caged  birds 
which  do  not  relish  hard  grain. 

A  Russian  mulberry  tree  is  one  of  the  best  trees 
for  attracting  the  birds.  Among  the  birds  that 
will  visit  it  are:  Kingbirds,  orioles,  sparrows,  star- 
lings, goldfinches,  cuckoos,  flickers,  robins,  scarlet 
tanagers,  thrushes,  blackbirds,  purple  grackles,  cat- 
birds, and  redstarts. 

When  caged  birds  do  not  seem  to  be  thriving, 
change  the  food  you  are  giving  them.  A  healthy 
bird  will  be  lively  and  spirited  at  all  times  except 
when  he  is  moulting.  Grated  carrot  will  often 
prove  to  be  a  beneficial  change,  and  is  a  good  food 
at  any  time. 

Insect-eating  birds  will  relish  a  grasshopper,  or 
some  other  insect  for  which  they  have  a  natural 
desire.  Be  sure  to  give  them  some  occasionally. 
They  have  a  right  to  their  natural  food. 

Blackcaps  and  other  ripe  berries  should  be  given 
to  the  shut-in  birds  daily  in  berry  season.  There 
is  no  food  they  will  like  better. 


324  A  Plea  for  the  Birds 

A  bird's  tree  will  be  well  patronized.  Tie  on  it  all 
the  bones  which  are  left  from  the  table.  They  al- 
ways have  on  them  shreds  of  meat,  fat,  and  gristle. 
Wheat  ears,  clover  tops,  and  sunflower  heads  will 
prove  a  great  attraction,  while  broken  crackers 
and  bread  crumbs  sprinkled  in  the  crotches  will  be 
eaten  readily. 

No  one  tree  will  attract  such  a  great  variety  of  birds 
as  the  Russian  mulberry.  If  you  have  room  for  but 
one  tree,  be  sure  that  is  the  kind  you  plant. 

Japanese  millet  holds  its  seeds  well  and  if  planted 
thickly  where  it  can  grow  up  through  a  horizontal 
lattice  work,  makes  a  valuable  cover  and  feeding 
place  for  winter  birds.  Canary  grass  is  also  a  very 
good  selection  for  seed-eating  birds. 

Larches  and  pines  of  various  kinds  are  most  at- 
tractive to  crossbills,  and  birches  and  elders  are 
eagerly  sought  by  goldfinches  and  redpolls. 

Berry  bushes  especially  for  the  birds  planted  near 
the  strawberry  bed,  raspberry  patch,  and  in  the 
orchard  will  preserve  those  fruits  for  family  use. 
The  bird  bushes  should  be  a  little  taller  than  the 
fruit  for  table  use  so  they  will  sight  it  first. 


A  Plea  for  the  Birds 


325 


A  planting  in  accordance  with  the  table  below 
will  furnish  fresh  food  for  the  birds  throughout  the 
year: 

(Juniper,  red  cedar,  bayberry,  hackberry,  bar- 
berry, pokeweed,  flowering  crab  apple,  choke- 
berry,  English  thorn,  beach  plum,  holly, 
crowberry,  bittersweet,  buckthorn,  Virginia 


January 

February 

March 

October 

November 

December 


April 
May 


June 
July 


August 
September 


creeper,  summer  grape,  wintergreen,  snowberry, 
cranberry,  privet. 

Hackberry,  bayberry,  greenbrier,  red  cedar, 
pokeweed,  chokeberry,  flowering  crab  apple, 
pasture  rose,  crowberry,  sumac,  inkberry,  black 
alder,  mountain  holly,  buckthorn,  summer  grape, 
wintergreen,  and  cranberry. 

Juniper,  red  cedar,  hackberry,  common  elder, 
red  and  white  mulberry,  barberry,  wild  goose- 
berry, red  currant,  June  berry,  wild  strawberry, 
wild  blackberry,  wild  red  cherry,  sand  cherry, 
cranberry,  blueberry,  bearberry,  and  winter- 
green. 

Bayberry,  hackberry,  red  cedar,  jumper,  bar- 
berry, pokeweed,  sassafras,  spice  bush,  wild 
gooseberry,  red  currant,  chokeberry,  mountain 
ash,  June  berry,  cockspur  thorn,  beach  plum,  red 
and  black  cherry  (wild),  wild  blackberry,  pas- 
ture rose,  crowberry,  sumac,  ink  berry,  alder, 
Virginia  creeper,  frost  grape,  buffalo  berry, 
bunch  berry,  flowering  dogwood,  wintergreen, 
bearberry,  and  cranberry. 


Many  birds  are  compelled  to  fly  miles  to  obtain 
water.  Young  birds  that  are  unable  to  fly  long  dis- 
tances often  die  for  lack  of  a  drink.  The  simplest 
sort  of  devise  is  just  as  good  for  holding  water  as 


326  A  Plea  for  the  Birds 

a  highly  ornamented  one.     A  roasting  pan,  painted 
white  inside  and  out  will  be  very  attractive. 

Perhaps  the  really  best-planned  bird  baths  are 
pools  of  a  few  inches  in  depth,  the  bottom  sloping 
gradually  upward  toward  the  edge.  Both  bottom 
and  edge  should  ,be  rough  to  afford  a  safe  footing  for 
the  tiny  claws.  A  pool  of  concrete  will  be  excel- 
lent, and  if  a  metal  receptacle  is  used,  it  will  be 
well  to  have  it  roughened. 

Birds  appreciate  a  water  supply  in  winter  as  well 
as  in  summer. 

A  bath  on  top  of  a  rockery  will  be  attractive  and 
convenient.  Fashioned  of  concrete,  they  can  easily 
be  made  by  an  amateur. 

When  bird  baths  are  sunk  into  the  ground,  or 
placed  where  they  can  easily  be  reached  by  cats,  it 
is  best  to  surround  them  by  thick  shrubbery,  to 
make  the  cat's  approach  difficult.  Most  birds 
prefer  the  bath  on  the  ground,  for  they  can 
then  hop  out  and  shake  themselves  off  before 
having  to  fly. 

Birds  cannot  fly  jar  with  wet  feathers,  so  be  sure 
to  have  bushes  or  trees  near  the  bath  that  they 
may  fly  there  and  shake  themselves  off.  They 


A  Plea  for  the  Bkds  327 

enjoy  drying  and  pruning  themselves  as  much  as 
they  enjoy  the  bath. 

Land  birds  never  go  directly  into  deep  water,  so  a 
series  of  stones  or  steps  should  be  arranged  to 
enable  them  to  enter  the  water  gradually.  If  the 
bath  must  necessarily  be  deep,  place  stones  in  it 
that  reach  to  the  top  of  the  water. 

Birds  always  enjoy  cool  water,  therefore,  the  bird 
bath  or  fountain  should  never  stand  where  it  is 
exposed  to  the  rays  of  the  sun,  or  the  birds  may 
not  be  attracted  by  it  at  all. 

The  elder,  sumac,  and  tartarian  honeysuckle 
produce  berries  that  the  birds  relish,  and  it  is  to 
be  hoped  that  one  or  more  of  these  may  be  placed 
near  the  bird  bath. 


Bits  of  Information 

The  best  way  to  study  birds  is  first  hand,  out  in  the 
fields.  A  reliable  bird-guide  book  will  prove  of 
inestimable  value  in  learning  the  habits  of  the 
birds,  and  when  illustrated  in  colors  will  aid  in 
recognition  of  the  various  kinds.  A  notebook 
and  pencil  should  be  at  hand  for  jotting  down  all 
observations. 


328  A  Plea  for  the  Birds 

Wherever  there  are  insects,  there  will  be  found  birds. 
They  usually  frequent  pastures,  orchards,  trees  of 
the  village,  and  the  borders  of  springs  and  brooks. 

For  birds  that  will  not  nest  in  houses,  plant  trees 
and  shrubs  with  berries  on  them,  or  near  by. 
Thickets,  where  they  can  be  screened  from  the 
approach  of  humans,  are  much  appreciated. 

//  has  been  proven  that  the  bee-martin  eats  only  the 
drones  among  the  bees,  hence  they  are  not  detri- 
mental to  have  around  when  bees  are  kept.  The 
bee-martin  is  also  known  by  the  name  of  kingbird. 

The  best  way  to  eliminate  the  English  sparrow 
from  the  gardens  is  to  systematically  destroy  their 
nests  and  eggs  every  ten  days  or  two  weeks  during 
the  breeding  season. 

Crows,  blackbirds,  magpies,  and  blue  jays  are 
doubtful  benefits  to  a  neighborhood. 

The  United  States  Government  report  states  that 
a  virtue  has  been  found  in  sparrows,  in  that  they 
save  the  country  nearly  a  million  dollars  a  year 
by  consuming  great  quantities  of  the  seeds  of  weeds. 

Woodpeckers  and  kingbirds  are  very  valuable  to 
the  fruit  grower  as  they  consume  a  great  many  of  the 
insects  that  infect  the  barks  of  trees.  Bluebirds, 


A  Plea  for  the  Birds  329 

too,  destroy  a  great  number  of  these  insects  and 
take  no  toll  from  the  trees. 

A  shelter  box  will  be  a  great  comfort  to  the  birds 
on  very  cold  or  stormy  days.  Procure  a  box  of 
thick  wood,  line  the  box  with  cotton  batting,  and 
turn  the  open  end  toward  the  south.  Place  a 
piece  of  wire  fencing  on  the  limb  of  the  tree  near 
the  box  to  keep  the  cats  away.  Cats  soon  learn 
the  places  birds  frequent  and  will  take  their  daily 
naps  near  the  spot,  eagerly  watching  with  one  eye 
half  open  all  the  time. 

Birds  do  not  like  being  crowded  and  if  a  place  is 
studded  with  bird  houses  only  a  few  of  them  will  be 
occupied.  Nests  built  in  shrubbery  will  come  to  a 
bad  end  if  the  shrubbery  is  often  disturbed.  They 
are  impatient  of  human  meddling  and  should  be 
granted  all  the  privacy  possible  during  the  incubat- 
ing and  brooding  period. 

A  Christmas  tree  for  the  birds  should  be  an  annual 
custom.  The  discarded  Christmas  tree  should  be 
untrimmed  and  then  retrimmed  with  cheesecloth 
bags  filled  with  suet,  with  small  cups  or  cans  of 
seed,  bread  crumbs,  oats,  etc.  Sheaves  of  wheat, 
cornstalks,  and  branches  of  holly  will  add  to  the 
pleasure  derived  by  the  birds.  It  should  be  densely 


330  A  Plea  for  the  Birds 

crowded  in  order  that  the  birds  may  get  in  and 
hide. 

The  death  of  many  birds  has  been  caused  by 
careless  spraying  of  trees  and  shrubbery  with 
ar senate  of  lead.  Think  of  the  birds  when  spraying, 
and  avoid,  if  possible,  putting  the  arsenate  of  lead 
where  they  will  be  likely  to  get  at  it. 

Birds  eat  grasshoppers,  beetles,  wasps,  mosquito 
larvae,  potato  bugs,  boll-weevils,  and  many  other 
kinds. 

As  many  as  fifty  varieties  of  birds  eat  cater- 
pillars, while  thirty  kinds  feed  on  plant-lice. 

Birds  will  not  sing  unless  they  hear  singing. 
They  learn  by  imitation  only. 

The  best  time  oj  day,  during  the  summer,  to  study 
the  birds  is  between  sunrise  and  ten  o'clock  in  the 
morning,  and  again  just  before  sunset.  During 
the  middle  of  the  day,  the  birds  keep  out  of  sight 
as  much  as  possible.  During  the  winter  months, 
the  best  hours  are  between  ten  o'clock  in  the 
morning  and  two  o'clock  in  the  afternoon.  The 
spring  is  the  best  season  of  the  year  to  start  bird 
study. 


A  Plea  for  the  Birds  331 

Birds  mate  and  nest  early  in  the  year  when  natural 
food  is  abundant,  and  they  will  not  have  to  go  far 
from  the  nest  for  nourishment. 

The  best  location  for  bird  study  is  in  a  meadow 
with  water  and  trees  in  close  proximity,  for  some 
birds  will  frequent  the  wooded  section  and  others 
will  come  seeking  water. 

To  disturb  the  eggs  in  a  bird's  nest  is  cruelty  in  the 
extreme.  The  mother  bird  always  knows  when  her 
eggs  have  been  handled  and  she  resents  it  bitterly, 
and  often  will  abandon  the  nest  and  the  eggs 
with  it. 

lirds  are  second  in  rank  among  animal  life. 
They  are  of  a  lower  order  than  mammals,  or  ani- 
mals which  suckle  their  young,  and  on  a  higher 
plane  than  the  reptiles. 

Many  ages  ago  birds  had  teeth,  but  the  only  in- 
dication of  teeth  now  is  a  roughness  of  the  bill 
found  in  some  species. 

Bats  are  not  classed  as  birds,  though  they  fly 
through  the  air.  Their  classification  is  based  on 
the  fact  that  they  are  mammals. 

A  narrow  shelf  fastened  on  the  barn  below  the  eaves 
will  attract  cliff  swallows  and  eave  swallows.  Barn 


332  A  Plea  for  the  Birds 

swallows  will  be  attracted  by  an  opening  in  the 
gable  end  of  the  barn. 

Flycatchers,  kingbirds,  purple  martins,  chim- 
ney swifts,  nighthawks,  whippoorwills,  Canadian 
warblers,  and  ruby- throated  hummingbirds  are 
among  the  birds  that  catch  their  food  as  thty  fly 
through  the  air. 

The  whippoorwill  builds  no  nest  but  lays  its  eggs 
among  dead  leaves  which  have  fallen  in  holes  and 
in  other  places  where  the  brush  will  hide  them. 

Among  the  birds  which  frequent  fruit  trees  are 
the  robin,  the  bluebird,  the  mocking  bird,  the 
house  wren,  various  warblers,  the  Baltimore  oriole, 
the  chickadee,  the  brown  thrasher,  and  tree- 
sparrows. 

The  bobolink,  meadow  lark,  nighthawk,  sparrow, 
goldfinch,  and  the  red-winged  blackbird  sing  as  they 
fly. 

Crows  destroy  other  birds  and  are  practically  of 
no  help  to  anyone,  except  that  they  will  follow  the 
plow  and  eat  worms,  bugs,  and  other  insects. 
However,  the  number  of  pretty  and  useful  birds 
they  destroy  would  kill  many  more  insects  than 


A  Plea  for  the  Birds  333 

the  crows;   hence  to  kill   a  crow   is   to  benefit 
humanity. 

Be  sure  to  plant  several  honeysuckle  vines  if  you 
would  attract  the  little  humming  bird.  There  is 
nothing  they  love  better. 

Grass  should  not  be  cut  in  the  nesting  fields 
during  the  breeding  season  if  the  bobolinks, 
meadow  larks,  and  bob-whites  are  to  be  protected. 

When  birds  attack  the  watery  fruits  such  as  grapes, 
pears,  etc.,  it  is  often  because  they  are  thirsty.  A 
bird  fountain,  of  even  the  crudest  kind,  will  some- 
times protect  the  fruit. 

Frequent  baths  will  do  much  toward  keeping  birds 
healthy  and  clean.  The  water  should  be  changed 
every  day,  or  at  most  every  second  day.  When 
the  birds  are  moulting  they  are  not  inclined  to 
take  such  frequent  baths. 

When  sparrows  have  formed  the  habit  of  roosting 
on  the  ledges  of  the  piazza  posts  and  other  painted 
woodwork,  take  a  long  pole  and  shoo  them  away 
several  evenings  in  succession,  and  they  will  soon 
decide  that  it  is  not  a  comfortable  place  to  sleep. 


334  A  Plea  for  the  Birds 

Cultivate  the  purple  martins  and  they  will  help 
to  get  rid  of  the  English  sparrow  which  is  such  a 
nuisance. 

Kingbirds  will  drive  away  English  sparrows,  crows, 
and  blue  jays,  and  should  be  attracted  by  giving 
them  what  they  like  best  to  eat.  (See  pp.  318, 
323,  3250 

When  young  birds  seem  ill  and  generally  out  of 
sorts,  try  putting  into  their  mouths  a  mixture 
of  half -whiskey  and  half -water;  or  a  few  drops  of 
paregoric  in  a  spoonful  of  water.  This  will  usually 
revive  their  spirits  and  stimulate  them  to  normal 
condition. 

Young  birds  want  food  as  soon  as  they  are  awake, 
hence  the  cage  should  be  covered  with  a  dark  cloth 
at  night  to  prevent  their  waking  too  early.  It  is 
better  to  cover  the  cages  of  all  birds  at  night  to 
prevent  them  waking  the  household  before  the 
members  are  ready  to  stir. 

Birds  should  have  a  cage  large  enough  to  move 
around  in  freely.  They  must  have  exercise  in  order 
to  thrive.  One,  two,  or  even  three  perches  will 
prove  a  great  comfort  to  them.  Remember, 
under  natural  conditions  they  have  the  whole 
world  in  which  to  roam. 


A  Plea  for  the  Birds  335 

Put  the  bird  bath  well  up  away  from  the  reach  of 
cats.  Many  a  bird  has  met  an  untimely  death 
while  in  the  act  of  taking  his  bath.  The  cat  only 
too  soon  learns  that  this  is  a  favorite  spot  of  the 
birds  and  will  lie  quietly  in  wait  for  hours  to  get  a 
chance  to  pounce  upon  his  tender  little  prey. 

A  nest  built  like  his  native  wood's  nest  will  make 
a  bird  very  happy.  In  every  way  make  their  new 
surroundings  as  much  like  the  natural  home  as 
possible.  Birds  often  droop  and  die  from  sheer 
homesickness,  when  a  bit  of  green  and  a  homelike 
nest  would  have  kept  up  their  spirits. 

One  screech  owl  will  make  an  interesting  pet,  but 
when  two  screech  owls  are  put  in  a  cage  together, 
all  but  the  bones  and  feathers  of  one  may  be 
missing  in  the  morning.  They  frequently  eat  their 
own  kind. 

The  most  humane  way  to  get  rid  of  English  spar- 
rows is  never  to  let  the  eggs  hatch.  If  the  nests 
and  eggs  are  watched  closely  these  little  birds 
can  be  eliminated.  It  seems  cruel,  but  they  are  a 
proven  pest  and  in  no  way  a  pleasure.  In  the 
State  of  New  York  there  is  a  fine  imposed  for  feed- 
ing them. 


336  A  Plea  for  the  Birds 

A  new  wonder  of  bird  life  has  come  to  light.  In 
North  America  the  birds  that  live  in  the  colder 
sections  fly  south  for  the  winter,  but  in  South 
America  there  is  no  similar  movement  from  the 
colder  to  the  warmer  sections. 

To  prevent  sparrows  roosting  in  any  particular 
spot,  take  an  old  paint  brush,  dip  it  in  tar,  and 
apply  to  the  spot.  They  will  not  try  it  the  second 
time  after  the  tar  is  on. 

To  prevent  cats  from  getting  at  the  birds1  nests, 
train  a  thorny  rose  vine  to  grow  around  the  trunk 
of  the  tree,  or  fasten  a  piece  of  tin  or  zinc  around 
the  tree  in  the  shape  of  an  inverted  funnel.  The 
metal  should  be  thirty  inches  wide.  Still  another 
way  is  to  run  a  circle  of  wire  around  the  trunk  of 
the  tree,  sufficiently  high  that  the  cat  cannot  jump 
above  it,  and  suspend  from  it  a  dozen  long-necked 
bottles.  When  the  cat  is  climbing  up  and  reaches 
the  bottles  she  will  experience  trouble  and  soon 
grow  discouraged. 

The  little  spotted  ladybird  is  one  of  the  fruit 
growers1  and  farmers1  best  friends.  It  lives  chiefly 
upon  plant-lice,  and  if  there  are  enough  around  the 
lice  will  be  kept  in  check. 


A  Plea  for  the  Birds  337 

Two  species  of  bluebirds  inhabit  the  Western  States, 
the  mountain  bluebird  and  the  Western  bluebird. 

The  birds  of  beautiful  plumage  are  the  insect  eaters. 
Nature  intended  the  birds  to  do  their  work  by 
ridding  the  earth  of  insects.  It  is  claimed  that 
insects  carry  germs  that  cause  two  thirds  of  the 
world's  diseases.  The  greater  the  number  of 
insects,  the  greater  the  loss  of  life.  Saving  a  bird 
means  saving  human  life.  A  wren  will  eat  from 
twenty-five  to  fifty  worms  in  fifteen  minutes. 

22 


INDEX 


Abutilon,  how  to  prune,  re- 
quirements of,  25 

Achillea,  how  to  grow;  sowing 
seed,  25 ;  care  of;  how  to  ferti- 
lize, 26 

Adder's  Tongue,  for  table 
decoration,  60 

African  Marigolds,  suitable  for 
shrubbery  borders,  92;  how 
to  sow  seed;  care  of;  trans- 
planting; soil,  93 

Ageratum,  where  it  will  thrive, 
26;  planting  with  other 
flowers,  27 

Alkanet,  or  Anchusa,  to  make 
cuttings;  requirements  of,  28 

Almond,  flowering,  where  to 
plant,  238 

Alyssum,  fertilization;  trans- 
planting; when  making 
cuttings;  producing  abund- 
ance of  flowers,  27;  with 
tulips,  139 

Amarantus,  or  Love-Lies- 
Bleeding,  when  to  plant 
seed;  transplanting;  how  to 
quicken  growth,  89 

Ammonia,  added  to  water  for 

house  plants,  159 
— Sulphate  of,  when  to  ap- 
ply; quantity  to  use,  169 

Anchusa,  or  Alkanet,  to  make 
cuttings;  requirements  of,  28 

Anemone,  or  Japonica,  or 
Japanese  windflower,  kind  of 
soil;  as  a  hedge,  28;  when  to 
transplant,  29 


Angleworms,  value  of,  268 

Annuals,  to  preserve  hardy, 
283 

Annuals  Arranged  According 
to  Colors,  List  of,  302 

Aphis,  green,  to  control,  258 

A  Plea  for  the  Birds  (article), 
308-314 

Apple  Trees,  for  shade,  248; 
apple  blossoms,  when  to 
spray,  261 

Arbor- Vitae,  age  of;  soil  re- 
quirements for  best  foli- 
age, 29;  for  practical  use, 

237 

Arbutus,  kind  of  soil,  29;  graft- 
ing experiments,  30 

Army  worm,  appearance  of; 
to  kill,  260 

Art  of  Growing  Flowers,  The 
(article  on),  1-7 

Arsenate  of  Lead,  to  prevent 

burning   foliage,    254 
— danger  to  birds,  330 
— paste,  to  prepare,  271 
— powder^ recipe  for,  271 
— to  combine  with  Bordeaux 
mixture,  267 

Ashes,  to  make,  290;  value  of, 
291 

Ash,  for  seaside  use,  247 

Aster-beetle,  to  kill,  267 

Asters,  when  and  how  to 
grow  seed;  transplanting; 
fertilization,  30;  to  protect 
from  bugs;  to  rid  of  bugs, 
31,  267;  China,  planted  with 
godetia,  71;  use  of  arsenate 
of  lead,  267 


339 


340 


Index 


Attar-of-Roses,  where  made, 
281 

Atropa,  or  nightshade,  where 
it  grows;  destruction  of,  191 

Ayrshire  Roses,  used  for  hedge 
or  background,  125 

Azalea,  soil  and  fertilizer,  31,33 ; 
how  to  force  for  Christmas 
blooming;  care  of,  31;  trans- 
planting; pruning;  how  to 
put  in  pots,  31;  watering,  32 


B 


Baby's  Breath,  or  Gypsophila, 
space  conditions;  propaga- 
tion, 72 

Bachelor's  Button,  where  to 
plant,  planting  to  best 
advantage,  33 

Bacterial   diseases,    to   check, 

255 

Balloon  flower,  or  bellflower; 
soil  requirements;  how  to 
plant;  care  of  plants  in  fall, 

35 
Balloon  vine,  raised  from  seed, 

147 
Balsam,  requirements  for  best 

growth,  33;  distance  apart, 

transplanting,  34 
Barberry,  as  evergreens,  237; 

purple,  to  plant  for  effect; 

as  a  house  plant,  238 
Basic -slag,    when    to    apply; 

quantity  of,  170 
Basket,  for  kneeling  in  garden, 

290;  should  be  taken  when 

going  into  the  garden,  290; 

device  on  which  to  hang  the 

basket,  291 
Bath,   for  the  birds,  how  to 

make,   326,   327;   where   to 

place,    326;    advantage    of 

bushes  near,  326,  327 
Bats,  classification  of,  331 
Bean,   Hyacinth,   for  training 

on  wall;  perennial,  144 
Beans,    Ornamental,        raised 

from  seed,  147 


Bean  vines,  to  produce  more 
blossoms,  143 

Beech  fern  for  table  decora- 
tion, 60 

Beetles,  destroyed  by  birds, 
330 

Begonias,  soil  for;  as  house 
plants;  care  of,  after  bloom- 
ing; cuttings;  bulbs;  spring 
planting,  34,  35;  slipped  in 
fall  for  summer  beds,  69 

Bellflower,  Japanese,  or  bal- 
loon flower;  soil  require- 
ments; how  to  plant,  35 

Bell,  Golden,  planting  on  north 
wall,  144 

Berries,  advantage  of  planting 
elder,  319;  for  the  caged 
birds,  323;  to  protect  fruit 
from  birds,  324 

Birds,  A  Plea  for  the  (article), 
308-314 

Birds,  books  on  the  life  of,  314 

Bird  Houses  (hints  on),  314- 
317;  time  for  putting  up, 
314;  location  for;  made 
from  small  boxes;  with  re- 
ference to  cleaning;  for  the 
martin,  315,  317;  advantage 
of  perch;  for  bluebirds;  post 
for  fastening;  color  prefer- 
able; to  persuade  to  remain 
North,  316;  from  hollow 
limbs;  size  of  openings  for 
different  birds;  for  robins, 
catbirds,  and  kingbirds;  use 
of  gourds,  317 

Birds,  how  and  when  to  study, 
327,  330,  33i;  where  they 
frequent;  that  will  not  nest 
in  houses;  that  eat  bees; 
to  eliminate  the  sparrow; 
disadvantageous  species; 
virtue  in  sparrows;  value 
of  woodpeckers  and  king- 
birds, 328;  shelter  box  for; 
with  reference  to  placing  of 
houses  and  meddling  with 
them;  Christmas  tree  for, 
329;  accidental  deaths;  in- 
sects they  eat;  to  induce 


Index 


Birds —  Continued 

singing,  330;  when  they 
mate;  disturbing  eggs;  rank 
in  animal  life;  their  teeth; 
classification  of  bats;  to 
attract  swallows,  331;  birds 
that  catch  their  food  as  they 
fly;  habits  of  the  whippoor- 
will;  that  eat  fruit;  that 
sing  as  they  fly;  danger  from 
crows,  332;  to  attract  hum- 
ming birds;  to  protect 
various  birds;  when  they 
attack  fruit;  to  keep  healthy; 
to  frighten  sparrows  away, 
333 ;  to  get  rid  of  the  English 
sparrow,  334,  335;  when 
young  birds  are  21;  to 
prevent  birds  waking  too 
early  in  the  morning;  value 
of  exercise,  334;  to  avoid 
the  cat,  335,  336;  appreciate 
natural  surroundings;  habits 
of  screech  owls,  335;  differ- 
ence in  habits  of  South 
American  birds;  to  prevent 
sparrows  roosting  in  a  spot; 
value  of  ladybird,  336;  spe- 
cies of  bluebirds  in  the  West; 
which  birds  eat  insects,  337 

Bits  of  Information  (about 
birds),  327-337 

Bittersweet,  for  autumn 
beauty;  for  arbor  planting, 
146 

Bitterweed,  or  ragweed,  of  no 
use,  192 

Blackbirds,  not  desirable,  328 

Blazing  Star,  how  best  to 
plant,  35,  36 

Blight,  to  get  rid  of,  265 

Blood,  dried,  when  to  apply; 
quantity  of,  169 

Blue  flowers,  list  of  perennial, 
301 ;  list  of  annuals,  304 

Bluebirds,  houses  for,  316; 
size  of  entrance  hole  for 
house,  317;  value  of,  328; 
food  desired,  322,  332;  in 
Western  states,  337 

Blue  Bottle,  or  ragged  sailor, 


other  names^  for;  when  to 
plant  seed;  care  of  young 
plants,  49 

Blue  jay,  not  desirable,  328 

Boll- weevils,  destroyed  by 
birds,  330  i 

Bobolinks,  to  protect,  333 

Bone,  crushed,  when  to  apply; 
quantity  of,  170 
— Meal,  preparation  as  fer- 
tilizer, 1 66;  when  to  apply; 
quantity  of,  170 

Books  on  bird  life,  314 

Bordeaux  Arsenate  of  Lead 
mixture,  mixture  for,  272 

Bordeaux  Mixture,  recipe  for, 
269;  substitute  for,  266; 
combined  with  other  sprays, 
267;  for  rose  bushes,  123 

Borders,  planning  of,  156 

Borers,  to  get  rid  of,  265 

Botanical  Names  of  Flowers, 
A  List  of  the  Common  and, 
293-297 

Bougamvillea,  care  of;  propa- 
gation; soil  for  cuttings,  36 

Box,  window,  advantage  of 
self- watering,  279;  for  the 
kitchen,  289;  depth  of,  289; 
position  of,  289 

Bridal  Wreath,  or  Francoa, 
kind  of  soil;  grafting;  root- 
ing of  cuttings,  36,  37 

Brittle,  fern  for  table  decora- 
tion, 60 

Bugs,  to  prevent  hibernating, 
256;  to  get  rid  of,  265,  269; 
destroyed  by  birds,  330 

Bulblet  fern  for  table  decora- 
tion, 60 

Bulbs,  to  force  growth,  78; 
planting  in  lawn,  76 

Butterfly  Flower,  or  schizan- 
thus,  when  to  sow  seed; 
care  of  plants,  37 

C 

Caladiums,  for  shrub  borders, 
40;  with  castor-oil  bean,  43 

California  Poppies,  planting 
in  permanent  location,  in 


342 


Index 


Calla  Lilies,  fertilizing  to  give 
best  results,  88 

Calliopsis,  or  Coreopsis,  colors 

,  of,  37;  how  to  plant  seed; 
care  of  plants;  soil,  38 

Canadian  Thistle,  to  kill,  138 

Candytuft,  soil,  38;  care  of 
young  plants;  as  an  edging 
for  flower  bed ;  grown  for  cut 
flowers;  winter  blooming; 
planting  of  seed,  39 

Cannas,  requirements  for 
healthy  growth;  care  of 
bulbs  in  winter,  39;  com- 
binations in  shrub  borders; 
dividing  roots,  40;  with 
castor-oil  bean  plants,  43 

Canterbury  Bell,  soil  for  best 
growth ;  plantings  for,  peren- 
nial, biennial,  and  annual 
flowering,  40;  pruning;  when 
to  plant  seed,  41 

Carnations,  starting  plants  in 
dirt  bands;  to  root  cuttings; 
to  produce  blue  flowers; 
when  to  plant  seed;  kind 
of  soil,  41,  42;  kind  of 
fertilizer,  43 

Carrots,  Wild,  or  Queen  Anne's 
Lace,  to  rid  of,  191 

Carolina  wrens,  size  of  en- 
trance hole  in  house  for, 

317 
Castor-Oil  Bean,  to  give  shady 

spot;     distance     apart     for 

plants;  combined  with  other 

plants,  kind  of  soil,  40,  43 
Catalpas,  how  to  plant,  248; 

commercial  value,  250 
Catbirds,  house  desired,  317; 

tree  for,  323 
Caterpillars,  danger  from,  256; 

as  effective  spray  for,  258, 

265;  eaten  by  birds,  322,  330 
Catnip,  out  of  courtesy  to  the 

cat,  287 
Cats,     to     prevent     catching 

birds,  336 

Centipedes,  to  destroy,  262 
Cherry,  Choke,  use  for,  238; 

for  the  birds,  322 


Chickadees,   size  of  entrance 

to  house,  317 
Chickens,  to  protect  against, 

283,  284 
Chickweed,     to    exterminate, 

265 

Chimney  swifts,  habits  of,  332 
China    Asters,    planted    with 

godetia,  71 
Chive,  around  the  flower  beds, 

237 

Christmas  Tree,  use  for,  329 

Chrysanthemums,  starting 
in  hotbeds;  transplanting 
young  plants;  to  obtain 
large  flowers;  fertilizing;  to 
rid  shoots  of  lice;  propagat- 
ing from  seed;  cuttings  for 
hotbed  plants,  44,  45;  soil 
for,  44,  46 

Clarkia,  where  to  plant  seed; 
soil  required;  for  window 
boxes,  hanging  baskets  and 
flower-bed  borders,  46 

Clay  Soils,  drainage  of;  as  a 
foundation,  157 

Clematis,  for  covering  and 
shade,  143;  training  of,  147; 
for  table  decoration,  148 

Cliff  Break,  fern  for  table 
decoration,  60 

Climbing  Hydrangea,  north 
wall  planting,  144 

Climbing  roses,  127 
— vines,  150 

Cloth  of  Gold,  climbing  rose, 

145 
Clotille  Soupert  rose,  care  of, 

122,  123 
Cobaea  Scandens,  trellis  for; 

transplanting     from     paper 

cups;  rabbit  netting  instead 

of  cord  for  support,  46,  47 
Cockscomb,  colors  of;  massed 

with    shrubbery;    when    to 

plant    seed;    transplanting; 

cuttings   for    winter    house 

decoration,  47,  48 
Cocoanut,    shell    for    feeding 

birds,   320;  shell  as  resting 

place  for  birds,  321 


Index 


343 


Cold  frame  sash,  kind  to  use, 

281 
Coleus,    with    castor-oil    bean 

plant,  43 
Color    Scheme,    The    (article 

on),  273-278 
Color  scheme  of  garden,  150, 

153,  155 

Columbine,  when  to  plant 
seed;  distance  apart;  winter 
blooming;  recommended  as 
national  flower;  attraction 
for  humming  birds,  48; 
protection  during  winter,  75  j 

Common  and  Botanical  Names 
of  Flowers,  A  List  of  the, 
293-297 

Compost,  preparation  of,  159, 
162,  163;  application  of,  163 

Concentrated  Lye,  to  kill 
weeds;  caution  in  use  of, 
192 

Coneflower,  or  rudbeckia,  how 
to  obtain  cuttings;  cultiva- 
tion, 49 

Coreopsis,  or  Calliopsis,  colors 
of;  how  to  plant  seed;  care 
of  plants;  soil,  37,  38 

Cornflower,  many  names  for; 
when  to  plant  seed;  care  of 
young  plants,  49 

Corrosive  Sublimate,  to  make; 
spray  of,  270 

Cosmos,  how  to  plant  seed;  re- 
quirements for  best  growth; 
late  blooming  plant;  loca- 
tion for  best  effect;  to  obtain 
second  flowering,  50 

Cottage  Tulips,  cultivation  of, 

138 

Crabapple,  soil  requirements; 
to  rid  of  insects,  244 

Cranberry,  high  bush,  as  a 
shrub,  237 

Creeper,  Virginia,  distin- 
guished from  poison  ivy,  148 

Crimson  rambler,  climbing 
rose,  145;  training  of,  147 

Crocus;  when  to  plant  bulbs; 
care  of  bulbs  in  winter;  as 
house  plants  in  winter;  care 


of,  51;  best  soil  for,  52; 
placing  to  best  advantage, 
76;  potting  plants  and  their 
cultivation,  78 

Crossbills,  trees  for,  324 

Cross,  Maltese,  how  to  plant; 
propagation;  dividing  of 
roots,  91 

Crows,  not  desired,  328;  value 
of,  332 

Crushed  Bone,  when  to  apply; 
quantity  of,  170 

Cuckoes,  tree  for,  ^323 

Cucumber-beetle,  to  keep  off, 
267 

Cucumber,  Wild,  for  summer 
house  covering,  144;  raised 
from  seed,  147 

Cultivation  (hints  on),  187- 
190,  benefits  derived  from, 
187;  when  to  cultivate, 
187,  188;  to  mark  spots 
where  seeds  are  planted, 
1 88;  for  dry  earth;  time  of 
day  for,  188;  to  conserve 
moisture,  188,  189;  remedy 
for  backache  from  hoeing, 
189;  carried  to  extremes;  to 
offset  poor  soil,  189;  caution 
in  hot  dry  weather,  proper 
condition  of  earth  for,  190; 
when  to  use  fork  instead  of 
hoe,  190 

Currant,  flowering,  soil  re- 
quirements; how  to  propa- 
gate, 239,  240 

Cutting,  Flowers  for,  304 

Cut  Flowers  (hints  on),  195- 
197;  vases  for;  glass  bowl 
for;  to  keep  roses  fresh  and 
fragrant  longer,  195,  196; 
charcoal  beneficial  to  cut 
flowers,  196;  sending  by 
mail,  197 

Cuttings,  when  rooting,  285, 
286 

Cutworms,  to  kill,  268 

Cyclamen,  when  to  re-pot 
house  plants;  soil;  moisture 
and  temperature  necessary, 
52. 


344 


Index 


Cypress  Vine,  vine  of  rapid 
growth,  143;  raised  from 
seed,  147 


Daffodils,  storing  bulbs  for 
winter  months,  77;  forcing 
plants  for  Christmas  bloom- 
ing; potted  plants  and  their 
cultivation,  78,  79;  to  pre- 
vent ground  from  heaving, 
80;  to  grow  hardy  plants, 

139 

Dahlias,  soil  required;  when 
to  plant;  cultivation;  sup- 
ports for;  care  of  bulbs  in 
winter;  advantage  of  plant- 
ing among  shrubbery,  53, 
54;  care  of  bulbs  in  winter, 

39,  40 
Daisy,  soil;  how  to  propagate 

giant   daisy;    Shasta   daisy, 

54;  with  tulips,  139 
Damp    Places,    Flowers    that 

Thrive  in,  306 
Dandelions,  to  kill  roots  of,  191, 

192 
Darwin  Tulips,  cultivation  of, 

138 

Designing  garden,  150-156 
Dianthus,  kind  of  soil  needed 

for    plants;    when    planting 

seeds,    transplanting   young 

plants;  care  in  winter,  55 
Diseases,   fungus,   to   control, 

255;  bacterial,  to  check,  255 
Dishrag  Gourd,  149 
Dogtooth  Violet,  soil;  moisture 

and  sunlight  for  best  growth; 

variety  of  colors,  55 
Dorothy     Perkins,      climbing 

rose,  145 
Dragon's  Head,   soil   needed; 

how  to  propagate;  for  cut 

flowers,  56 
Drainage,  for  moist  soil,  156, 

157;    planting    flowers    on 

slope,  151 
Dried  Blood,  when  to  apply; 

quantity  of,  169 


Dusty  Miller,Jplanted  in  clus- 
ters; when  to  sow  seed,  56 

Dwarf  Nasturtiums,  with  sweet 
peas,  99 


Edelweiss,  Swiss,  best  location 
for  planting;  propagation  by 
seed  and  division  of  roots, 

57 

Egg  shells,  used  to  plant  seed 
in,  179 

Elephant's  Ear,  tropical  effect; 
soil  required;  to  give  shade; 
guard  against  bugs  and 
worms,  57,  58 

Elms,  how  to  plant,  248 

English  Ivy,  where  to  plant; 
to  wash;  prune,  145;  to  root 
cuttings,  146 

Essentials  in  Gardening 
(article  on),  8-15 

Evergreen  Shrubs  and  Trees, 
List  of,  307 

Experimenting,  grafting  kin- 
dred plants,  151 

Eyes,  to  protect  when  spray- 
ing, 261 

F 

Fall  flowers,  a  list  of,  299 
Featherfew,  or  feverfew,  self- 
sown;     continuous     bloom; 

three    or    four    crops    each 

season,  60 
Features     of     the      Garden, 

Special  (article  on),   16-24 
Ferns,  soil  needed;  fertilizing; 

wood  ferns  for  garden,  58; 

house  plants  in  winter;  how 

to    keep    fresh    and    green; 

Boston    fern;    raw    oysters 

for  nourishment  of    plants; 

preparing  soil,  59;  ferns  for 

table  decoration,  60 
Fertilization    (hints  on),   157- 

172 
Fertilizer,  application  of,  157; 

stable   manure  well   rotted; 

age  of   barnyard   fertilizer; 


Index 


345 


Fertilizer — Continued 

use  of  lime  water;  for  roses; 
caution  with  nitrate  of  soda, 
158;  to  promote  flowering 
and  fruilf  ulness;  for  better 
coloring;  preparation  of  com- 
post, 159,  162,  163;  con- 
stituents of  fertilizer;  nitro- 
gen and  phosphate  for 
flowers;  crushed  bone; 
potash  to  strengthen  plants, 
1 60,  161;  how  to  apply  to 
roots;  how  to  apply  liquid 
to  growing  plants;  sheep 
manure,  161;  removal  of 
debris  in  manure;  when  to 
fertilize;  safe  proportions 
for  poor  soil  not  analyzed; 
to  keep  ammonia  in  soil 
after  applying  compost,  162; 
to  promote  rapid  growth  of 
plants;  application  of  lime, 
163;  how  to  have  soil 
analyzed,  164;  commercial 
^  fertilizer;  when  soil  has  too 
much  potash  or  is  over- 
fertilized,  164;  for  soil  used 
every  year;  Guano;  to  make 
humus;  qualities  of  nitrogen, 
phosphate,  and  potash,  165; 
wood  ashes  to  be  sifted; 
caution  with  manure;  bone 
meal;  disposition  of  flowered- 
out  plants,  1 66;  to  counter- 
act strong  fertilizers;  man- 
ures also  for  winter  covering; 
to  make  heavy  soils  lighter; 
to  make  light  soils  heavier; 
fertilizer  containing  nitro- 
gen; advantage  of  liquid 
manure;  for  plants  already 
flowering;  to  produce  better 
flowers;  for  leaves  and  stems, 
167,  1 68;  quantities  of  fer- 
tilizers to  be  used,  169; 
when  to  apply  on  lawn,  172; 
use  of  wood  ashes,  170;  for 
rose  bushes,  121,  122,  123; 
for  transplanted  roots,  183 

Feverfew,  or  Featherfew,  self- 
sown;  continuous  blooming; 


three  or  four  crops  each 
season,  60 

Flag  Lilies,  when  to  plant,  88 

Flickers,  size  of  entrance  to 
house,  317 

Flies,  green,  to  get  rid  of,  259; 
to  destroy  larvae  of,  262, 
265,  266;  to  kill  black,  266 

Flowers  Arranged  According  to 
Color,  Perennials,  300-302; 
Annal,  302-304 

Flowers  Arranged  According 
to  the  Blossoming  Period, 
A  List  of,  297-299 

Flowers  for  Cutting,  304 

Flowers  for  the  Old-Fashioned 
Garden,  306 

Flowers  Requiring  Little  Sun- 
light, 305 

Flowers  that  Thrive  in  Damp 
Places,  306 

Flowers  for  the  Rock  Garden, 
306 

Flowers,  Cut  (hints  on),  195- 
197;  Vases  for;  glass  bowl 
for;  to  keep  roses  fresh  and 
fragrant,  195,  196;  charcoal 
beneficial  to  cut  flowers, 
196;  sending  by  mail,  197 

Flowers,  Growing  (hints  on), 
25-212 

Flowers,  nitrogen  and  phos- 
phate for;  fertilizers  for,  160; 
that  furnish  seed  for  birds, 
320 

Flowers,  The  Art  of  Growing 
(article  on),  1-7 

Foliage,  Vegetation  Grown  for, 
306 

Foliage,  supplied  by  the  use  of 
vegetable  leaves,  292 

Food  and  Water  (hints  on), 
318-327;  (for  birds),  to 
attract  winter  birds;  suet 
basket;  food  for  young  birds 
318;  when  to  give  water; 
evergreens  valuable  to  birds, 
3;  berries  for  birds;  advan- 
tage of  sunflowers;  in  feed- 
ing hemp  seed  to  young 
birds;  the  caged  bird,  319, 


Index 


Food  and  Water — Continued 
323;  for  the  snowbirds; 
vegetation  for  birds;  flowers 
that  furnish  food,  320;  utiliz- 
ing a  cocoanut  shell,  320, 
321;  food  tray;  to  cure  the 
bird  of  ailments;  food  for 
hard-billed  and  soft-billed 
birds;  regularity  of  feeding; 
green  food,  321;  use  of 
shrubs  and  vines;  food  for 
the  bluebird;  seed  eaters 
and  fruit  eaters,  322,  324; 
trees  for  the  birds,  322,  323, 
324,  325;  when  caged  birds 
do  not  thrive;  insect-eating 
birds,  323;  berries  for,  323, 
324,  327;  fresh  food  through- 
out the  year,  325 ;  water,  325, 
326 

Forget-me-not,  as  a  border; 
filling  in  with  shrubbery; 
house  plant  in  winter;  when 
to  sow  seed;  kind  of  soil, 

60,  61;  with  tulips,  139 
Formaldehyde     solution,      to 

make  spray  of,  270 
Forsythia,  care  of  roots  in  fall 
for  spring  flowering ;  pruning ; 
propagation  from   cuttings, 

61,  62 

Four-o'clock,  how  to  sow  seed ; 
how  to  set  out  plants;  self- 
perpetuating,  62 

Foxglove,  kind  of  soil;  when 
to  plant  seed;  not  to  be 
transplanted  in  fall,  63; 
protection  during  winter,  75 

Freesias,  fertilizer  for;  when 
and  how  to  pot  bulbs; 
ripening  bulbs  before  storing 
for  next  season,  63 

French  Marigolds,  suitable  for 
flower  bed  borders;  how  to 
sow  seed;  care  of;  trans- 
planting; soil,  92,  93 

Fuchias,  to  keep  during  winter; 
cultivation  in  early  spring; 
pruning;  to  root  cuttings, 
64;  slipped  in  fall  for  summer 
planting,  69 


Fungus  diseases,  to  check,  255 
G 

Gaillardia,  sowing  seed;  trans- 
planting from  hotbed;  kind 
of  soil  needed;  cuttings  for 
house  plants;  for  garden 
borders,  65;  not  to  be  trans- 
planted in  fall,  63 

Garden,  General  Plan  of 
(hints  on),  150-156;  de- 
signing; color  scheme,  150; 
studying  layout;  protection 
and  exposure,  150,  151; 
rock,  198,  199 

Garden,  Special  Features  of 
(article  on),  16-24 

Gardenias,  how  to  grow;  for 
planting  the  next  season; 
too  fragrant  for  house 
plants,  65,  66 

Gardening,  Essentials  In 
(article  on),  8-15 

Gas,  Hydrocyanic,  danger,  who 
should  use,  264 

Gateway,  training  of  vine 
over,  147 

General  Plan  of  the  Garden 
(hints  on),  150-156 

Gentian,  varies  under  like 
conditions;  kind  of  soil; 
protection  in  winter,  66 

Geraniums,  to  produce  beauti- 
ful flowers;  when  to  start 
plants  for  winter  blooming; 
care  of,  to  encourage  further 
blooming;  some  large  plants 
desirable;  slips;  methods  of 
rooting  cuttings;  variety  of 
colors;  geranium  bed  of 
little  expense;  suitable  for 
window  boxes,  67-69;  Ivy- 
leaf,  for  window  box  culture, 
144;  oil,  where  obtained, 
281;  rose,  tree  formation; 
soil  conditions,  116,  117 

German  Iris,  combining  with 
Silene,  130 

German  Ivy,  for  window  box 
culture,  144 


Index 


347 


Germs,  and  spores,  precau- 
tions against,  261 

Gladiolus,  care  of  bulbs  in 
winter,  69,  71;  planting  in 
spring;  soil;  saving  bulblets; 
support  for  plants;  guard 
against  rainstorm,  70;  cut 
flowers;  late  plantings,  70,  71 

Glechoma,  for  window  box 
culture,  144 

Godetia,  soil  required;  com- 
bined with  China  asters; 
planting  in  clumps,  71,  72 

Gold,  Cloth  of,  climbing  rose, 

145 
Golden    Bell,    early    bloomer; 

soil  needed,  61;  planting  on 

north  wall,  144 
Goldfinches,  trees  for,  324 
Gourd,  grown  from  seed,  147; 

how   to  plant   seed;   trans- 
planting young  plants;  wood 

ashes  applied  to  roots,  149 

— dishrag,  149 
Grafting,   experimenting  with 

flowers,  151;  on  a  cold  day, 

283 
Grapefruit,  seeds  planted   for 

table  decoration,  201 
Grasses,    effective   for   mixing 

with      shrubbery;      around 

buildings;     how    to    plant; 

love    grass;    care    of,    222; 

suitable    for    moist    places, 

223 
Grass  seed  (see  Lawn),  when 

to    plant;    watering;     wood 

ashes     beneficial     to,     170; 

kind    to    use;    to    prevent 

birds  from  eating  seed,  219; 

treatment  after  sowing;   in 

purchasing,  220 
Greenhouse,    airing    of,    212; 

to  disinfect,  263 
Growing  Flowers,  The  Art  of, 

(article  on),  1-7 
Growing  Flowers  (hints    on), 

25-212 
Guano,  a  good  fertilizer,  165; 

when  to  apply;  quantity  of, 

169     - 


Gypsophila,  or  Baby's  Breath, 
space  needed;  propagation, 
72 

H 

Hairy  Lip,  fern  for  table 
decoration,  60 

Hanging  plants,  to  water,  194 

Hart's  Tongue,  fern  for  table 
decoration,  60 

Heath  family,  shrubs  of  the; 
cultivation  of,  239 

Hedge,  Spiraea,  132 

Helenium,  or  Sneezeweed,  cul- 
tivation of;  effective  plant- 
ing; supports  for  plants,  131, 
132 

Heliotrope,  kind  of  soil;  for 
continuous  blooming  till 
frost;  tall  heliotrope  effec- 
tive; cuttings  for  propaga- 
tion, 73 

Hemlock,  soil  for  the,  245 

Hemp  seed,  in  giving  to  birds, 

319 

Hessian  fly,  to  destroy,  266 

Hibiscus,  where  it  will  thrive 
best;  cultivation;  cuttings 
for  propagation,  73,  74 

Hollyhock,  placing  to  advan- 
tage; fertilizing;  sowing  seed 
every  year;  protection  during 
winter  months;  spraying  in 
hot  weather;  protection  from 
wind;^  to  produce  large 
flowers,  74,  75;  flowers 
second  season,  76;  prepara- 
tion for  winter,  84 

Honeysuckle,  attraction  for 
hummingbirds,  48 ;  for  cover- 
ing and  shade,  143;  training 
of,  147;  Tartarian,  148,  149 

Honesty,  or  Lunaria;  seed 
self-sown;  pods  dried  for 
indoor  decoration,  76 

Hop,  Japanese,  raised  from 
seed,  147 

Hop  vine,  for  rapid  growth 
and  beauty,  146 

Horsechestnut,  care  of,  247, 
250 


348 


Index 


Horse-radish  roots  to  grow  in 
water,  281 

Hotbed,  The  (hints  on),  207- 
212;  for  early  flowering,  207; 
preparing  plants  for  garden; 
watering;  location  for,  208; 
extra  protection  for  young 
plants,  209;  ventilation  for; 
when  to  start,  209;  to  pre- 
vent too  much  sunlight  on; 
how  to  make,  210,  211; 
temperature  of;  material  for; 
drainage,  211;  making  a 
pit;  airing  of,  212;  trans- 
planting from,  1 86;  sash, 
kind  to  use,  281 

House  Plants  (hints  on),  199- 
207;  to  retain  gloss  on  leaves 
of  rubber  plant,  199,  200; 
to  destroy  insects  on;  sum- 
mer garden  planting;  small 
plant  in  large  pot;  re- 
potting; when  to  fertilize, 
200;  for  table  decoration; 
vine  or  climbing  plant  in 
pot;  fertilizer  for,  201,  203; 
to  prevent  window  boxes 
from  rotting,  201,  202;  to 
prevent  jardinieres  being 
blown  over,  202;  to  kill 
worms;  moisture  required  for 
house  plants;  watering,  202; 
to  prevent  earth  being 
washed  over  rim  of  pot, 
202,  203;  need  of  fresh  air 
for;  from  cellar  to  warm 
room,  203;  for  succession  of 
blooms;  caution  against 
frost;  to  rid  of  red  spiders, 
204;  to  avoid  marring  wood 
from  porous  saucer,  204, 
205;  painting  flower  pots; 
drainage  in  pots;  to  thaw  a 
frozen  plant,  205;  treatment 
of  frozen  plant;  re-starting 
growth  of  plants;  preparing 
soil  in  fall  for  spring  use; 
when  to  put  outdoors,  206; 
turned  to  sunlight;  re- 
potting before  cold  weather, 
207;  dishwater  for,  159;  ex- 


amined frequently,  253,  254; 
to  protect  from  gas  and 
dust,  291;  to  move  heavy; 
fiber  saucers  for,  279,  280; 
stands  for, inexpensive;  hang- 
ing flower-pot,  self -watering, 
280;  list  of,  299 

Houses,  Bird  (hints  on),  314- 
317;  time  for  putting  up, 
314;  location  for;  made 
from  small  boxes;  with  re- 
ference to  cleaning;  for  the 
martin,  315,  317;  advantage 
of  perch;  for  bluebirds;  post 
for  fastening;  color  prefer- 
able; to  persuade  birds  to 
stay  North,  316;  from  hollow 
limbs;  size  of  openings  for 
different  birds;  for  robins, 
catbirds,  andking  birds;  use 
of  gourds,  317 

Humus,  to  make,  165,  166, 
167;  of  rakings  from  grass, 
172 

Hyacinths,  soil  requirements; 
how  to  plant  bulbs,  76; 
Dutch  hyacinth  for  design- 
ing; Grape  hyacinth  as  an 
edging;  when  to  set  out 
bulbs;  prepared  fiber  for 
growing  bulbs;  bulbs  stored 
in  winter,  77,  78;  to  grow 
in  water  during  winter;  to 
force  plants  for  Christmas 
blooming;  cultivation  of  pot- 
ted plants,  78;  to  have  flow- 
ers in  early  spring;  time  to 
plant,  79;  best  soil  for;  to 
prevent  the  ground  from 
heaving;  soil  for  indoor  pot- 
ted bulbs,  80;  care  of  house 
plants,  51;  to  grow  hardy, 
139;  bean,  vine  of  rapid 
growth,  143;  for  training  on 
wall;  perennial,  144,  145 

Hybrid  Perpetual  Roses,  used 
as  hedge  or  background,  125 

Hydrangeas,  fertilizing,  80; 
to  produce  blue  hydrangeas; 
pruning;  protection  in  win- 
ter; how  to  make  cuttings, 


Index 


349 


Hydrangeas — Continued 

81;     climbing;    north     wall 
planting,  144 


Iceland  Poppy,  time  to  sow 
seed;  growing  in  clumps, 

III,     112 

Information,  Bits  of  (about 
birds),  327-337 

Indian  Nettle,  or  Lantana, 
training  as  bush  or  tree;  soil 
requirements,  83 

Insects,  (article  on),  251-253 

Insects,  (hints  on  extermina- 
tion), 253-269;  how  to 
locate,  253;  classes,  254; 
to  destroy  sucking,  255; 
precaution  before  planting, 
256,  261;  how  to  spray,  257, 
261,  268,  269;  when  to  spray, 
255,  257;  disinfectant  for, 
264;  the  use  of  the  toad, 
268;  value  of  birds,  268; 
to  get  rid  of  borers  and  root 
maggots,  265;  to  destroy  on 
house  plants,  200;  protec- 
tion of  rose  bushes  from, 
121, 123;  birds  which  devour, 

337 

Iris,  Japanese,  how  to  grow; 
fertilizing,  81,  82;  prepara- 
tion for  winter,  84,  107; 
planting  in  permanent  loca- 
tion, 88;  German,  combined 
with  Silene,  130 

Iron,  Sulphate  of,  when  to 
apply;  quantity  of,  169 

Ivy,  for  covering  and  shade, 
143;  on  north  wall,  144;  to 
freshen;  when  to  prune,  145, 
146;  English,  where  to  plant, 
to  wash,  to  root  cuttings, 
145,  146;  German,  for  win- 
dow box  culture,  144;  poison, 
to  distinguish;  killing  roots 
of,  148;  Ivy-leaf  Geranium, 
for  \vindow  box  culture, 
144 


Jack-in-the-Pulpit,  cultiva- 
tion; where  to  plant;  useful 
in  destroying  bugs,  82 

Japanese  Anemone,  or  japonica; 
kind  of  soil;  when  to  trans- 
plant; how  to  make  cuttings; 
care  of,  28,  29 

Japanese  bellflower,  soil  re- 
quirements; how  to  plant; 
care  of  plants  in  fall,  35 

Japanese  Hop,  raised  from 
seed,  147 

Japanese  Iris,  how  to  grow; 
fertilizing,  8 1,  82 

Japanese  Quince,  north  wall 
planting  of,  144 

Japonica,  Japanese  wind- 
flower,  or  Anemone,  kind  of 
soil;  as  a  hedge;  when  to 
transplant,  28,  29 

Jardiniere,  to  prevent  being 
blown  over  in  wind,  202 

Jessamine,  or  Jasmine,  soil 
required;  pruning,  82;  plant- 
ing on  north  wall,  144 

Juniper,  Irish,  reasons  for  the 
popularity  of,  245 

K 

Kainite,  when  to  apply;  quan- 
tity of,  170 
Kaiser    blumen,     or    Ragged 

Sailor;     other    names     for; 

when  to  plant  seed;  care  of 

young  plants,  49 
Kerosene  Emulsion,  to  make, 

272 
Kingbirds,  size  of  entrance  to 

house,   317;   value  of,   328, 

334;  habits  of,  332 


Labels  for  plants,  288,  289 
Ladybirds,    value    to    farmer, 
336 


350 


Index 


Lantana,  or  Indian  Nettle, 
training  as  bush  or  tree; 
cuttings;  soil  requirements, 

83 

Larkspur,  when  to  sow  seed; 
protection  during  winter, 
75,  84,  107;  distance  apart; 
where  to  plant;  care  of; 
preparation  for  winter;  var- 
iety of  colors,  84,  85 

Lavender,  advantages  of;  how 
to  plant  seed  and  cuttings; 
treatment  of  drying  leaves, 

84,85 

Lawn,  The  (article  on),  213- 
218 

Lawn,  The  Care  of  (hints  on), 
219-223;  appearance  of 
moss,  170,  220;  treatment  of 
moss,  171;  to  produce  new 
lawn  quickly;  remaking  an 
old  lawn;  bare  patches;  fer- 
tilizer for,  171,  172;  when 
watering,  220;  for  Southern 
country;  effect  of  seed  ma- 
turing; to  make  cutting 
easy;  care  in  September, 
221;  plan  for,  222 

Leaf-Spot,  how  to  rid  of,  265 

Lemon  Verbena,  140 

Lice,  Plant,  to  control,  254, 
^259;  value  of  birds,  330 

Lilacs,  how  to  prune;  planted 
as  a  hedge,  85,  86 

Lilies,  Calla,  fertilizing  to  give 
best  results,  88 

Lilies,  Flag,  when  to  plant, 
88 

Lilies,  Irises,  to  be  placed  in 
permanent  location,  88 

Llilies,  Madonna,  when  to 
plant  bulbs,  how  to  care 
for,  88;  Tiger,  when  to  plant 
bulbs,  used  as  a  background, 
cutting  the  flowers,  87; 

Lilies-of-the- Valley,  where  and 
how  to  plant,  kind  of  soil, 
in  combination  with  myrtle, 
house  plants,  86,  87;  varie- 
ties of,  86-88 

Lime-Sulphur,  recipe  for,  270 


Lime,  uses  of  in  soil,  158,  163, 

164,  165,  167 
Limewater,      for      fertilizing 

ground  and  killing  worms, 

158 
Lindens,  value  of,  244;  care  of, 

247;  how  to  plant,  248 
Liquid  fertilizer,  for  growing 

plants,  161;  advantages  of, 

167,  168 
List     of    Annuals    Arranged 

According  to  Colors,  302-304 
List  of  Evergreen  Shrubs  and 

Trees,  307 

List  of  Flowers  Arranged  Ac- 
cording to  the  Blossoming 

Period,  A,  297-299 
List  of  Flowers  for  Cutting,  304 
List  of  Flowers  for  the  Old- 

Fashioned  Garden,  306 
List  of  Flowers  for  the  Rock 

Garden,  306 
List    of    Flowers    Requiring 

Little  Sunlight,  305 
List  of  Flowers  that  Thrive  In 

Damp  Places,  306 
List  of  Perennials  Arranged 

According  to  Colors,  300-302 
List    of    Plants    Grown    for 

Foliage,  306 

List  of  Plants  Suitable  for  Win- 
ter Planting,  299 
List   of   the    Common      and 

Botanical  Names  of  Flowers, 

A, 293-297 
Lobelias,  suitable  for  borders, 

baskets  and  pots;  when  to 

sow  seed;  transplanting;  soil 

required,  88,  89 
Love-Lies-Bleeding,  or  Amar- 

antus;  when  to  plant  seed; 

transplanting;        how        to 

quicken  growth,  89 
Lunaria,     or     Honesty,     seed 

self-sown;    pods    dried    for 

indoor  decoration,  76 
Lupin,  where  to  plant;  soil  and 
[    moisture;   to  root  cuttings, 

90 
Lye,     concentrated;     to     kill 

weeds,  caution  in  use  of,  192 


Index 


M 

Madeira  vine,  for  window  box 
culture,  144 

Madonna  Lily,  when  to  plant 
bulbs;  how  to  care  for,  88 

Magnesia,  Sulphate  of,  when 
to  apply;  quantity  of,  169 

Magnolias,  soil  for;  best  var- 
iety; watering,  90,  91 

Maidenhair,  fern  for  table 
decoration,  60 

Maltese  Cross,  how  to  plant; 
propagation;  dividing  of 
roots,  91 

Maple,  Norway,  for  seaside 
use,  247;  how  to  plant, 
248 

Marguerite,  when  to  sow  seed; 
staking;  protection  in  win- 
ter; cuttings,  91,  92 

Marigolds,  French;  African; 
how  to  sow  seed;  care  of; 
transplanting;  soil,  92,  93; 
Pot,  single  and  double;  to 
have  flowers  early  and  late; 
colors  of;  hotbed  plantings; 
transplanting;  dried  leaves 
of  use  in  cooking,  112,  113 

Marjoram,  Sweet;  soil  for; 
how  to  make  cuttings;  dry- 
ing leaves,  93 

Martin,  the  kind  of  house 
preferred,  315,  317;  what 
bees  they  eat,  328;  aid  in 
getting  rid  of  the  English 
sparrow,  334 

Mayflower,  where  to  grow; 
soil  requirements,  94 

Meal,  Bone,  when  to  apply; 
quantity  of,  170 

Mealy-bug,  spray  for,  264 

Mice,  pine,  to  destroy,  262 

Midsummer  flowers,  A  list  of, 
298 

Mignonette,  sowing  seed;  suc- 
cessive plantings;  winter 
house  plants;  soil;  cultiva- 
tion, 94 

Mildew,  on  rose  bushes,  124; 
how  to  rid  of,  265 


Miller,  Dusty,  planted  in  clus- 
ters; when  to  sow  seed,  56 

Millet,  Japanese,  value  of,  324 

Mint,  to  grow  in  water;  where 
to  plant  in  garden;  as  shrub- 
bery, 95 

Miscellaneous  Hints  on  Gar- 
dening, 279-292 

Mistflower,  soil  required;  how 
to  propagate;  mark  for  loca- 
tion till  plant  appears,  95, 
96 

Mistletoe,  how  to  grow;  pro- 
tection of  seed  from  birds; 
propagation,  96 

Mock  Orange,  soil  for  best 
growth;  pruning;  cuttings, 
97 

Monkshood,  hardy  growth; 
length  of  life  of;  replanting; 
to  rid  of  black  blight,  97,  98 

Moonflowers,  to  grow  from 
seed,  98,  147;  soil  for,  98; 
vine  of  rapid  growth,  143 

Moonwort,  fern  for  table  de- 
coration, 60 

Morning  Glory,  vine  of  rapid 
growth,  143";  how  to  plant 
and  when,  145;  raised  from 
seedt>  147 

Mosquitoes,  breeding  by  excess 
moisture,  151;  to  destroy 
larvae  of,  262;  precaution 
against,  262 

Moss  Pinks,  with  tulips,  139; 
care  of,  125 

Mulberry,  Russian,  for  birds, 

323, 324 
Multiflora     Roses,     used     for 

hedge  or  background,  125 
Myrtle,       with      lilies-of-the- 

valley,  87 


N 


Narcissi,  placing  to  best  ad- 
vantage, 76;  storing  bulbs 
during  winter,  77;  forcing 
plants  for  Christmas  bloom- 
ing; potted  plants,  and  their 
cultivation,  51,  78;  when  to 


352 


Index 


Narcissi — Continued 

plant,  79;  to  prevent  ground 
from  heaving,  80;  to  grow 
hardy  plants,  139 

Nasturtiums,  soil  for;  how  to 
sow  seed;  grown  in  dirt 
bands;  in  hanging  baskets; 
winter  plants;  profusion  of 
flowers;  leaves  and  seeds 
for  cooking  purposes;  Dwarf 
nasturtiums  with  sweet  peas, 
98-100;  rapid  growth  of, 
143;  quickest  method  of 
rooting  slips,  68 

National  flower,  flower  com- 
monly known  as;  and  flower 
recommended,  282 

Nemophila,  to  sow  seed;  trans- 
planting; soil  requirements; 
cut  flowers  for  indoors,  TOO 

Nicotiana,  requirements  for 
best  growth;  distance  apart, 
101 

Nightshade,  or  atropa,  where 
it  grows;  destruction  of,  191 

Nitrate  of  Potash,  when  to 
apply;  quantity  of,  170 

Nitrate  of  Soda,  caution  with, 
158;  when  to  apply;  quan- 
tity of,  169  f 

Nitrogen,  qualities  of,  165,  168 

Nut  trees,  soil  requirements, 
248 


Oak,  pin,  for  seaside  use,  247 

Oakfern,  for  table  decoration, 
60 

Oats,  planted  with  grass  seed, 
171 

Oils,  plants  grown  for  their, 
282 

Oleander,  pruning;  fertilizing, 
101 

Old  Fashioned  Garden,  Flow- 
ers for  The,  306 

Orange  seeds,  planted  for 
table  decoration,  201 

Orchids,  kind  of  soil;  care  of, 

IO2 


Ornamental  Beans,  raised  from 

seed,  147 
Othanna,     for     window     box 

culture,  144 
Owls,  Screech,  as  pets,  335 


Painted  Tongue,  or  Salpi- 
glossis,  to  start  growth;  soil; 
planting  in  groups,  128 

Palms,  kind  of  soil;  to  give 
gloss  to  leaves;  nourishment 
for  plants;  to  quicken  growth ; 
protection  from  scale,  102, 
103 

Pansies,  fertilizing;  to  get 
large  flowers  in  fall;  care  of 
in  the  fall;  planting  for  best 
effect;  when  to  sow  seed; 
transplanting  young  plants, 
103,  104;  care  of  beds  in 
winter;  midsummer  bloom- 
ing; to  avoid  small,  faded 
flowers;  indoor  cultivation, 
105;  with  tulips,  139 

Paris  Green,  how  to  prepare; 
how  to  use,  271;  to  prevent 
burning  foliage,  254 

Peas,  Sweet,  134-137;  with 
Dwarf  nasturtiums,  99,  100 

Peonies,  to  prevent  crowding 
other  plants,  105;  time  to 
fertilize;  time  for  planting; 
care  of;  time  for  replanting; 
preparation  for  winter;  when 
grown  for  propagation;  when 
grown  for  blooms;  when 
plants  do  not  bloom,  106, 
107 

Pepper  Plants,  soil  require- 
ments; free  from  dust;  house 
plant  in  winter,  108 

Perennial  Poppies,  prepara- 
tion for  winter,  107 

Perennials  Arranged  Accord- 
ing to  Colors,  List  of,  300 

Perennials,  pruning,  284,  285; 
division  of  roots  advised, 
286;  trellises  for  vines,  287; 
care  of,  288 


Index 


353 


Periwinkle,  to  sow  seed;  kind 
of  soil;  planting  in  rows 
effective;  distance  apart, 
108 

Petunias,  for  window  boxes; 
planting  seed  in  garden;  to 
start  in  hotbed;  transplant- 
ing; special  attention  to 
double  varieties,  109,  nij 

Phlox,  when  to  sow  seed;  how 
to  place  to  advantage;  trans- 

Elanting;  to  rid  of  mildew; 
:>r  continuous  blooming 
throughout    season;    cut 
flowers,  109,  i  ip 
Phosphate,  qualities  of,  165 
Pink  flowers,  list  of  Perennials, 

302 ;  list  of  annuals,  304 
Pinks,  with  tulips,  139 
Plan  of  the  Garden,  General, 

(hints  on),  150-156,  285 
Plane  trees,  care  of,  247 
Planning  flower  garden,  draw- 
ing to  scale;  paper  for  sketch, 
151,  152;  color  scheme, 
150;  protection  and  ex- 
posure, 150;  drainage,  151; 
consideration  of  size  and 
season  of  blossoms,  151, 
153;  sunlight  and  shade 
needed,  151;  starting  garden 
with  annuals,  152,  153; 
perennials  as  background; 
garden  seat;  statuary;  ^  fea- 
tures to  be  emphasized; 
planting  of  trees  and  shrubs, 
J53»  J54;  t°  avoid  somber 
effect;  suggestions  for  effects; 
planting  white  flowers;  se- 
lecting hardy  plants;  neat- 
ness of  bed;  replanning  of; 
when  to  rearrange;  borders, 

155,  156 

Plantains,  to  kill,  192,  193 

Planting  for  cut  flowers,  plac- 
ing in  rows,  152 

Plants  Suitable  for  Winter 
Potting,  299 

Plowing,  condition  of  ground 
for,  156 

Poison     Ivy,     to     distinguish 

23 


from  Virginia  Creeper;  kill- 
ing roots  of,  148 

Polypody,  fern  for  table  de- 
coration, 60 

Pomegranate,  best  soil  for; 
location  for;  propagation, 
no,  in 

Poplar,  for  seaside  use,  247; 
how  to  plant,  248 ;  advantage 
0^249 

Poppies,  when  to  plant  seed; 
thinning  of  plants;  Califor- 
nia; Shirley;  to  be  planted  in 
permanent  location;  most 
profuse  bloomers;  when  to 
sow  seed  of;  Iceland,  in, 
112;  preparation  of  soil  for, 
107 

Portulaca,  when  to  plant  seed; 
transplanting;  used  as  edg- 
ing or  to  fill  gaps,  112 

Posts,  in  setting  wooden,  287 

Potash,  to  strengthen  plants, 
1 60;  qualities  of,  165,  166, 
1 68;  nitrate  of,  when  to 
apply;  quantity  of,  170 

Potassium  Sulphide,  directions 
for  spray,  270 

Pot  Marigold,  single  and 
double;  to  have  flowers  early 
and  late;  colors  of;  hotbed 
plantings;  transplanting; 
dried  leaves  of  use  in  cook- 
ing, 112,  113 

Potted  plants  (see  House 
Plants) 

Potting,  Plants  Suitable  for 
Winter,  299 

Primrose,  for  house  or  garden; 
length  of  season;  height  of 
plant;  how  to  sow  seed; 
transplanting;  to  keep  plants 
during  winter  months,  113, 
114 

Primulas,  soil  requirements; 
how  to  sow  seed  in  pots; 
care  of,  114 

Prince's  Feather,  colorings; 
as  a  brilliant  background; 
preserving  heads  through 
winter  months;  soil  to  pro- 


354 


Index 


Prince's  Feather — Continued 
duce  best  growth;  weeding 
out  young  plants;  to  preserve 
flowers  intact,  114,  115 

Privet,    California,    as    ever- 
greens, 237 

Pruning,  perennials,  284 

Pulverizing  soil  for  seed  and 
young  plants,  156 

Purple  stemmed  fern  for  table 
decoration,  60 

Purple  flowers,  list  of  peren- 
nial, 302;  list  of  annual,  304 


Q 


Queen  Anne's  lace,  or  Wild 
Carrots,  to  rid  of,  191 

Quince,  north  wall  planting  of, 
144 


Rabbits,  to  protect  against, 
284 

Ragged  Sailor,  or  Cornflower; 
many  names  for;  when  to 
plant  seed;  care  of  young 
plants,  49 

Ragweed,  or  Bitterweed,  of  no 
use,  192 

Rambler,  Crimson,  climbing 
rose,  145 

Raspberry,  wild,  advantage  in 
planting,  237 

Red  flowers,  list  of  Perennial, 
301 ;  list  of  annuals,  303 

Rhododendrons,  soil  require- 
ments; planting  seeds;  prun- 
ing to  insure  hardiness;  to 
revive  failing  plants;  fer- 
tilizing, 115,  1 16 

Robins,  house  preferred,  317; 
tree  for,  323;  attack  fruit 
trees,  332 

Rock  Cress,  how  to  plant  to 
advantage;  propagation,  116 

Rock  Garden,  The,  advantage 
of,  198;  how  to  make,  198, 
199;  when  to  start;  soil  for; 
compost  suitable  for,  199 


Rock  Garden,  Flowers  for  the, 
306 

Root-maggots,  to  get  rid  of, 
265 

Rose  Geranium,  tree  forma- 
tion; soil  conditions,  116, 

'«7 

Rosemary,  pruning,  propaga- 
tion, 117 

Roses,  Cuttings;  when  to 
take,  117;  how  to  take;  how 
to  root,  118;  growing  roses 
for  seed,  118;  care  of  seed- 
lings ;  transplanting,  119; 
to  rid  bushes  of  black  spot; 
drainage  foundation  under 
garden;  to  plant  roses;  space 
between  bushes;  spray  for 
mildew  on  bushes,  120; 
potted  plants  for  early  buds, 
12 1 ;  covering  plants  for 
winter,  121,  123;  to  have 
deeper  shade  of  flowers,  121; 
soil;  fertilizers,  121,  122, 
123,  158;  when  to  trans- 
plant, 122;  Clotille  Sou- 
pert,  care  of,  122;  climbers, 
care  of,  123;  124,  127,  white, 
yellow,  pink  and  red  listed, 
127;  spraying;  pruning,  121, 
123;  training  bushes  to  trees, 
124;  protection  from  mice; 
cause  of  mildew;  to  rid  of 
mildew,  124;  moss,  care  of, 
125;  Sweetbrier,  care  of, 
125;  hedges  and  background, 
kinds  of  roses  suitable  for; 
protection  from  wind,  125; 
Tausenschoen,  or  Thousand 
Beauties,  good  qualities  of, 
126;  ^Monthly  roses,  126; 
for  city  yards,  126;  color 
scheme,  126,  127;  white  and 
colored  listed,  127;  to  keep 
fresh,  196;  slipped  in  fall  for 
summer  beds,  69 

Rubber  Plant,  to  give  gloss  to 
leaves;  to  nourish,  199,  200 

Rubbish,  burner,  of  metal, 
safe  to  use,  281;  heap,  ad- 
vantage of,  290 


Index 


355 


Rudbeckia,  to  grow  from  cut- 
tings; how  to  obtain  cuttings 

49 
Rust,  to  get  rid  of,  265 


Sage,  Scarlet,  with  Castor-oil 
Bean  plant,  43 

Salpiglossis,  to  start  growth; 
soil;  planting  in  groups,  128 

Salt,  to  kill  weeds,  192;  placed 
in  vase  with  cut  flowers,  196 

Sal  via,  or  Scarlet  Sage;  loca- 
tion; sowing  seed;  trans- 
planting; soil,  129 

Sand  in  soil,  advantage  and 
disadvantage  of,  156 

San  Jose"  scale,  to  detect,  246 

Saxifraga,  for  window  box 
culture,  144 

Scabiosa,  to  raise  from  seed; 
annual,  biennial,  or  peren- 
nial; division  of  roots,  128, 
129 

Scale,  to  get  rid  of,  256,  258; 
remedy  for  San  Jose",  261 

Scarlet  Sage,  or  Salvia,  with 
Castor-oil  Bean  plant,  43; 
where  to  plant,  sowing  seed; 
transplanting;  soil,  129 

Schizanthus  or  Butterfly  flower; 
when  to  sow  seed;  care  of 
plants,  37 

Scotch  Roses,  used  as  hedge  or 
background,  125 

Screen,  vines  to  act  as,  147 

Seat,  Garden,  153 

Seed  (hints  on),  172-180; 
purchasing  the  best,  172; 
new  seed  each  year,  175; 
preparation  of  ground  for, 
172,  175;  plowing  large 
beds,  174,  178;  removing 
debris  from  soil;  to  kill 
seed  of  weeds,  174;  require- 
ments for  germination,  173, 
176;  moisture  needed,  173, 
174;  test  for  moisture  in 
soil,  176;  drainage,  173; 
how  to  makejlats,  178;  pre- 


paration of  seed  for  plant- 
ing, 177;  planting  in  summer, 
176;  how  to  plant,  175,  177, 
X78»  179;  drill  for  planting 
large  area,  176;  depth  to  be 
planted,  172,  173,  175,  178; 
seed  placed  in  tape,  180; 
temperature  of  ground,  173, 
176;  how  to  water,  173,  174; 
thinning  seedlings,  180; 
planting  for  seed,"i75 ;  gather- 
ing seed,  179,  1 80;  planting 
in  rows  for  transplanting, 
174,  175;  care  of  seed 
planted  indoors,  175;  fresh 
air  and  sunlight  for  seed 
indoors,  178;  watering  seed 
in  boxes,  178,  179;  planting 
in  egg  shells,  179;  keeping  a 
record,  177 

Seedlings,  when  there  is  an 
overabundance,  286 

Shasta  Daisy,  how  to  propa- 
gate, 54 

Shirley  Poppy,  planting  in 
permanent  location;  adapt- 
able for  cutting,  1 1 1 

Shrubbery  (hints  on),  231- 
241 ;  trained  to  fancy  shapes, 
effectiveness  of^  mint;  fer- 
tilization for;  in  selecting 
privet  and  boxwood,  231; 
to  plant  for  effectiveness, 
232,  233,  234,  237,  239;  the 
aim  of,  list  of  shrubbery- 
easy  to  grow;  plan  before 
planting,  232,  234,  235; 
advantage  for  curved  walls 
and  drives;  cultivation  of, 
233;  after  blooming,  234; 
to  prevent  drifting  soil,  235; 
transplanting,  235,  236; 
when  to  prune;  in  rooting 
cuttings,  236,  240;  care  in 
hot  weather,  236;  those 
which  flower,  238;  producing 
berries  for  the  birds;  or- 
namental hedges;  some  of  the 
most  desirable,  239;  when 
to  trim  hedge,  241;  when 
the  snow  covers,  241 


356 


Index 


Shrubbery  and  Trees  (ar- 
ticles on),  224-230 

Shrubs  and  Trees,  List  of 
Evergreen,  307 

Sickly  plant,  change  of  loca- 
tion for,  151 

Silene,  how  to  grow  from  seed; 
distance  apart;  soil;  cover- 
ing plants  in  winter;  com- 
bined with  German  Iris; 
late  blooming,  129,  130 

Slag,  Basic,  when  to  apply; 
quantity  of,  170 

Slipperwort,  for  Easter  bloom- 
ing, 41 

Slugs,  to  exterminate,  259,  261 

Smilax,  soil  for;  use  of  roots; 
propagation;  prolific  growth, 
130 

Snapdragon,  for  early  bloom- 
ing; perennial  or  annual; 
protection  in  winter;  soil 
requirements,  130,  131 

Sneezeweed,  cultivation  of; 
effective  planting;  supports 
for  plants,  131,  132 

Snowbirds,  to  feed,  320 

Snowdrop,  where  to  plant; 
soil,  132 

Soda,  Bicarbonate  of,  to  kill 
weeds,  192 

Nitrate  of,  when  to  apply, 
quantity  of,  169 

Soil,  (hints  on),  156-157;  pul- 
verizing; containing  sand; 
too  moist  for  cultivation; 
test  for  moisture  in,  156; 
drainage  of,  156,  157;  saw- 
dust and  shavings  harmful 
to,  157;  preparation  of;  for 
new  garden,  157;  application 
for  dry  soil,  157;  fertiliza- 
tion of,  157-172;  watering, 
1 68 

South  American  birds,  differ- 
ence in  habits  from  those  of 
North  America,  336 

Sparrows,  tree  for,  323;  to 
eliminate  English,  328,  334, 
335;  value  in,  328;  habit  of, 
332 


Special  Features  of  the  Garden 

(article  on),  16-24 
Spider,  red,  to  get  rid  of,  204, 

256 
Spiraea,  soil;  fertilizer;  pruning, 

132 
Spores,  and  germs,  precautions 

against,  261 
Spray,  how  to,  257,  261,  267; 

when  to,  255,  257;  for  plant 

louse,  254,  264;  for  the  red 

spider,  256;  for  rose  bugs, 

265;  for  the  black  fly,  266; 

for  fungicide  and  insecticide 

treatment    combined,    267; 

for  the  cucumber-beetle;  for 

the  aster-beetle,  267 
Sprays  which  Every  Gardener 

Should  Know  How  to  Make 

(recipes),  269-272 
Spring  flowers,  a  list  of,  297 
Spruces,  advantage  of  planting, 

244 
Stakes,  kind  of  wood;  colors, 

*53,  154;  in  tying  plants  to, 

285 
Stocks,   soil   needed   for   best 

growth;  transplantings;  cut 

flowers;    care   of   plants   in 

winter,  133 
Stumps  of  trees,  covering  with 

vines,  147 
Suggestions   for   Vines,    143- 

150 

Sulphate   of  Ammonia,   when 
to  apply;  quantity  per 
square  yard,  169 
— Iron,     when     to     apply; 

quantity  of,  169 
— Magnesia,  when  to  apply; 

quantity  of,  169 
Sumac,  scarlet,  soil  condition, 

238 

Summerhouse,  location  for; 
design  of,  154;  training  vine 
on,  147 

Sunflower,  when  to  plant  seed; 
distance  apart  for  plants; 
best  soil  conditions,  133, 
134;  as  food  for  chickens, 
284;  as  food  for  birds,  319 


Index 


357 


Sunlight,  Flowers  Requiring 
Little,  305 

Support  for  vines,  147 

Swallows,  to  attract  cliff  and 
eave,  331;  entrance  holes  of 
houses  for,  317 

Sweet  Alyssum,  fertilization; 
transplanting;  when  making 
cuttings;  producing  abun- 
dance of  flowers,  27;  with 
tulips,  139 

Sweetbrier  Roses,  care  of,  125 

Sweet  Marjoram,  soil  for;  how 
to  make  cuttings;  drying 
leaves,  93 

Sweet  Peas,  fertilizer  for; 
planting  in  trenches;  care  of; 
grown  on  wire  netting,  134; 
preparation  of  soil  for;  when 
to  sow  seed;  thinning  out 
plants;  distance  apart,  trans- 
planting, 135;  spray  to 
protect  from  bugs;  for  con- 
tinuous blooming;  cutting 
flowers;  to  keep  cut  flowers; 
to  grow  long-stemmed  flow- 
ers, 136;  watering  plants,  137; 
when  aphis  infect,  259;  with 
Dwarf  nasturtiums,  99;  vines 
for  making  humus,  149 

Sweet  William,  soil  require- 
ments; sowing  seed;  trans- 
planting young  plants;  thin- 
ning plants;  when  to  trans- 
plant large  plants,  137;  not 
to  be  transplanted  in  late 
fall,  63;  when  to  plant; 
protection  in  winter,  75 

Swiss  Edelweiss,  best  location 
for  planting;  propagation  by 
seed  and  division  of  roots,  57 


Table  decoration,  148 

Tall    Heliotrope,    height    of; 

cuttings  for  propagation,  73 
Tartarian    Honeysuckle,    148, 

149 
Tausendschoen     Roses,     good 

qualities  of,  126 


Tea  Roses,  used  as  a  hedge  or 
background,  125 

Thinning,  Transplanting  and 
(hints  on),  180-187 

Thinning,  without  regard  to 
size  of  plants;  space  for  each 
plant,  185 

Thistle,  Canadian,  to  kill,  138 

Thousand  Beauties  Roses,  good 
qualities  of,  126 

Tiger  Lilies,  when  to  plant 
bulbs;  used  as  a  background; 
cutting  the  flowers,  87 

Toad,  value  of,  268 

Tools  required  by  every  gar- 
dener, 279;  a  wheel  hoe, 
advantage  of,  280;  care  of, 
282,  284 

Tradescantia,  for  window  box 
culture,  144 

Transplanting  and  Thinning 
(hints  on),  180-187 

Transplanting,  to  develop 
roots,  1 80;  preparation  of 
plant  previous  to  taking  up; 
plants  sent  from  a  distance; 
lifting  young  plants  for, 
181;  preparation  of  green- 
house plants  for,  181,  182; 
treatment  of  plants  which 
will  not  stand  moving;  to  put 
in  ground  seeds  grown  in 
paper  cups,  182;  how  to  put 
plant  in  new  ground,  182, 
183;  preparation  of  soil  for; 
fertilizer;  to  replace  large 
plants,  183,  184;  condition 
of  plant  for;  time  of  day 
best  for,  184;  especial  care 
of  roots,  185;  from  hotbed 
to  open  ground;  after  a 
shower;  extra  care  for  deli- 
cate plants,  1 86;  for  protec- 
tion from  sun  first  day  or 
two,  186,  187 

Tray,  food,  for  birds,  321 

Tree_  of  Heaven,  origin;  re- 
quirements of;  rooting  cut- 
tings, 245 

Trees,  List  of  Evergreen 
Shrubs  and,  307 


358 


Index 


Trees  (hints  on),  241-250; 
flowering,  241 ;  when  to  move, 
242;  transplanting,  242,  248; 
advantage  of  oaks  and 
maples,  American  Elm  and 
Ashes,  243;  for  the  country 
place,  241;  where  to  plant, 
244;  soil  for  crabapple,  244; 
advantage  of  spruces,  244; 
advantage  of  Irish  Juniper, 
245;  soil  requirements  of 
hemlock,  of  the  tree  of 
Heaven,  of  the  tulip  tree, 
245;  when  rooting  cuttings, 
245;  effect  of  freezing  and 
thawing;  to  prevent  sun- 
scald;  to  soften  hard  bark; 
.  to  prevent  San  Jose"  scale; 
effect  of  extremes,  246; 
deciduous,  when  to  plant, 
for  smoke  cities,  for  the 
seaside,  tenderness  of  plane, 
lindens  and  horse  chestnuts, 
247;  Apple,  for  shade;  re- 
quirements of  nut  trees; 
how  to  plant  elms,  lindens, 
maples,  catalpas,and  poplars, 
248;  when  planting  opposite 
the  windbreak,  248;  in 
purchasing;  for  quick  shade; 
requirements  of  black  wal- 
nut; satisfaction  in  the 
yellow  wood,  249;  value  of 
catalpa;  with  reference  to 
horse  chestnut,  250;  stumps, 
covering  of  vines  for,  147; 
for  the  birds,  319,  320,  322, 

323,  324,  325 

Trellis,  training  of  vine  on, 
147;  material  for,  168,  169 

Trumpet  flower,  for  covering 
and  shade,  143 

Tulips,  care  of  house  plants, 
51 ;  placed  to  best  advantage, 
76;  well  adapted  to  design- 
ing; storing  bulbs  during 
winter,  77;  potted  plants; 
their  cultivation,  78;  time 
for  planting,  79;  to  prevent 
ground  from  heaving,  80; 
Darwin  and  Cottage;  soil 


requirements;  when  to  plant 
bulbs,  and  how,  138,  139; 
distance  apart;  effective  with 
other  plants;  to  have  hardy 
plants,  138,  139;  tree,  care 
of,  245 

U 
Umbrella,  use  of  old,  282 


Vegetables,  flowers  among  the, 
288 

Vegetation  Grown  for  Foliage, 
306 

Verbena,  treatment  of  seed 
before  sowing;  transplant- 
ing seedlings;  watering; 
grown  from  cuttings;  lemon 
verbena,  140,  141 

Vinca  Harrisonii,  for  window 
box  culture,  144 

Vines,  Suggestions  for,  143- 
150;  soil  required;  to  obtain 
more  profuse  blooming  and 
branching;  for  covering  and 
shade;  for  rapid  growth, 
143;  for  north  wall,  144; 
list  for  window  box  culture, 
144;  prevent  twisting  of, 
146;  training  of,  to  act  as 
screen,  147;  for  indoor  de- 
coration, 147;  support  for, 
147;  sweet  pea,  for  making 
humus,  149;  climbing,  150 

Violets,  soil  for;  watering; 
spray  for  rust;  protection 
from  wind  and  heavy  rain, 
141;  dogtooth,  soil;  mois- 
ture and  sunlight  needed 
for  best  growth;  variety  of 
Colors,  55 

Virginia  Creeper,  distinguished 
from  poison  ivy,  148 

W 

Walks,  garden,  warmth  of 
color,  291;  foundation  for, 
292;  how  to  lay,  292 


Index 


359 


Wall,  training  of  vine  over,  147 
Walnut,    black,    soil    require- 
ments;  length   of    time   to 
mature,  249 

Wasps,  to  destroy,  260,  263 
Water,  Food  and  (hints    on), 
(for     the    birds),    318-327 
Water,  should  be  supplied  for 

birds,  325,  326,  327 
Watering  (hints  on),  193-195; 
plenty  of  it;  how  often; 
method  of,  193;  time  of  day 
for;  when  to  use  spray; 
sprinkling  to  wash  dust 
from  leaves,  194;  hanging 
plants,  194;  trees,  shrubs, 
and  large  plants;  care  ex- 
erted with  sensitive  plants, 
195;  house  plants;  effect  of 
spasmodic  watering,  195; 
can,  kind  to  use,  272;  to 
loosen  earth  in  pots  pre- 
vious to;  aid  in  keeping 
insects  away,  168 
Water  Plants  (hints  on),  197- 
198;  when  to  put  out,  197; 
how  to  plant,  197;  space 
needed,  198;  list  of,  198 
Weeds  (hints  on),  190-193; 
to  destroy,  187-192;  pulled 
as  soon  as  they  appear,  190; 
to  kill  roots  of  dandelions, 
191,  192;  destroying  night- 
shade, or  atropa,  \igi',  to 
kill  growth  where  not 
wanted;  wild  carrots,  or 
Queen  Anne's  Lace,  191; 
chicory,  welcomed  for  blue 
flowers,  191,  192;  soil  best 
for  chicory,  192;  bitterweed, 
or  ragweed  of  no  use,  192; 
to  kill  plantains,  192,  193 
Whippoorwill,  habits  of,  332 
Whale-oil  soap,  to  prepare,  272 
White  Flowers,  List  of  Peren- 
nial, 300;  list  of  annuals,  302 


Wild  Carrots,  or  Queen  Anne's 
Lace,  to  rid  of,  191 

Wild  Cucumber,  raised  from 
seed,  147;  summerhouse 
covering,  144 

Wild  Grapevine,  rapid  growth; 
excellent  for  shade,  144 

Window  Boxes,  to  prevent 
from  rotting,  201,  202 

Winter  Potting,  Plants  Suit- 
able for,  299 

Wireworm,  method  of  attack; 
how  to  kill,  258 

Wistaria,  soil  and  cultivation; 
pruning;  food  for;  forcing 
flowers;  use  as  screen,  141, 
142;  for  covering  and  shade, 
143;  prevent  twisting  of,  146 

Wood  ashes,  for  lawn  before 
watering,  170,  171 

Woodpeckers,  value  of,  328; 
entrance  hole  for  houses,  317 

Worms,  to  kill  on  plants,  255; 
to  prevent  hibernating,  256; 
wireworms,  method  of  at- 
tack, how  to  kill,  258; 
army,  appearance  of;  to 
kill,  260;  angle,  value  of, 
268;  cut,  to  kill,  268 

Wrens,  entrance  holes  of 
houses  for,  317 


Yellow  wood,  desirability  of, 
249 

Yellow  flowers,  list  of  Peren- 
nial, 301;  list  of  Annuals, 
303 


Zinnia,  massed  with  other 
flowers;  when  to  sow  seed; 
where  to  plant  for  best 
effect,  142,  143 


YB  48539 


